©2019L.C.Ainsworth.Allrightsreserved.

This novel’s story, although inspired by a true story, is a work of fiction and the characters in this book are entirely fictional. Any

resemblance toactualpersons livingordead isentirelycoincidental.Althoughsome long-standing institutions,agencies,publicoffices

andpublicfiguresarementionedinthestory,theopinionsexpressedinthebookarethoseofthecharactersandshouldnotbeassociated

withtheauthor.

Nopartofthisbookmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,

photocopying,recording,orotherwise,withoutexpresswrittenpermissionoftheauthor.

ISBN:978-1-9160759-0-0

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CHAPTER1

CHAPTER2

CHAPTER3

CHAPTER4

CHAPTER5

CHAPTER6

CHAPTER7

CHAPTER8

CHAPTER9

CHAPTER10

CHAPTER11

CHAPTER12

CHAPTER13

CHAPTER14

CHAPTER15

CHAPTER16

CHAPTER17

CHAPTER18

CHAPTER19

CHAPTER20

CHAPTER21

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

Thisbookisdedicatedtomysister/bestfriend,andmygorgeousnephew.Withoutyou,mydearsister,Iwouldhaveneverhadthecouragetowritethisbook.Thankyouforsupporting

me,notonlymorally,butfinancially.

Iamforevergratefultoyou.

B ernardFaragewasstanding in frontofPrimroseCottage.Heremembered thefirst timehelaideyesonit.Ithadbeenthebeginningofautumn,andthevillageofGatewayHillhadjuststarted to transform itself into a picture-perfect orange-and-yellow garden. Right in the

middlewasthebeautiful,three-little-pigs-worthy,cutestonecottagewithathatchedroof.The garden beds were packed tight with plants. At first he had been puzzled by the informal

crowding of the large variety of flowers all around the garden, but then he realised that themix ofperennial flowers with foliage plants was what had turned that cottage into the village’s prettiestdwelling.Exceptthis timehewasnotgettingtheusual tinglingofpleasurehegoteverytimeheopenedthat

gate.Primrose’ssweetpinkstonepathtothewoodendoor,oncesopicturesque,wasslowlyturningintothepathtotheexecutioner.Hestoodinfrontof thedoor,hisheartracingandsweatstartingtodripalonghis temples.For the

firsttime,heregrettedhissenseofstyle.Hehadalwaysbeenabigfanofthree-piecepinstripeorchalk-stripe suits and always wore a fedora hat. This time his hat and his suit were burning him, and hecouldn’tstopsweating.Hewasabouttoturnbackwhenthedooropened.

Oh,forheaven’ssake,hethoughtwhileshrugginghisshoulders.Healreadyhadhisbacktothedoorandwasnotquitesurehowtoexplainhispresence,buthehad

beencaughttryingtoleaveanddecidedthathehadnootherchoicebuttoturnaround.Andsohedid,wearinghisbestsmile.Standingatthedoorwasaskinnygentlemaninabrownsuit;FarageonlyknewhimasBob.Bobwas

pale,withdarkcirclesunderhiseyes.Faragehadalwayswonderedwhathisfunctionwasinthehouse.Withhisslowvoice,Bobasked,“CanIhelpyou?”“IwouldliketoseeHerHighness,”saidFarage.Withoutaword,Bobslowlyopenedthedoorwide,thensteppedbackandwaited.Farage reluctantly stepped inside thecottage.Heslowlywalked through thenarrowbeigecorridor

withtheroyal’sshih-tzushowinghimtheway.Whenhewalkedintothesmalllivingroom,hetookamomenttolookaroundhim.Ontheleftwall

was an old red-brick fireplace with a large rustic oak beam above it, and above that were threehandcraftedblue-and-whitewallplates.Anelegantseventeenth-centurybureauwasat therightof thefireplace.Onthefloorwasabeautifuleighteenth-centuryredPersianrug,andontheleftoftheroomwasastunninghandmademarquetrydiningtablemadeofburr-walnut,withmatchingchairs.ThetablewassetforteawithaVictoriaspongecake,afewwatercresssandwichesandafinechinateaset,whichalmostmatchedthewallplates.The royal was sitting in a mid-nineteenth-century upholstered armchair of large proportions in

Caroleanstyle.IthadAmericanwalnutveneeroverabeech-woodframe.Farage’sheartalwaysracedwhenhelaideyesontheroyal,withhersmootholiveskin,herlongdark

hair,herpenetratingdarkeyes,herhighcheeksandherplumpedandpoutymouth.Shehasafacetolaunchathousandships,hethought.Hewasalsoextremelyattractedtoheroversizedbosom,herwidehipsandherlonglegs,whichshe

lovedtocrossanduncrossinfrontofher.Thatday,shewaswearingahigh-necked,long-sleevedandbackless see-through black dresswith a short train.He thought she looked spectacular.Hewouldn’thaveexpectedawomanofhersize tobewearingsucha revealingoutfit,butherconfidenceand theunapologeticwayshewasflauntinghergenerouscurveswaswhatmadeherthehead-turnershewas.She approachedhimvery slowly,wearing a small smileonher face.Shewasbarefoot.When she

reached him, she gently touched his right shoulder andwalked around him, still touching him. Shecouldn’thelpthelittlesmirkofcontentmentwhenshenoticedhisbreathingaccelerating.Shelovedhoweasilypeoplebecamearousedaroundher.Sheeventuallywalkedaroundhimandcamebackfull-circle,facinghim.“Whyareyouscaredofmetoday?Whatiswrong,mydearBernard?”shesaidwhileplayingwiththe

blacklacearoundherrightwrist.

“YourHighness,”hesaidinatremblingvoice,“thevicarhasrefusedyouroffer.Heisdemandingthatweleavethevillageimmediately,orhewillbeforcedtocalltheauthorities.”Shetookabigbreath,walkedafewstepsbackwardsandsaid,“Verywell,showhimhowseriouswe

are.Disposeoftheboy.”Shewasnolongersmiling.Evenhergaitwasnolongerseductivelyswaying;itwasstraightandfirm

likeasoldier’s.Sheturnedbackandsatonherantiquearmchair,bothherarmsrestingonthechair’sarms.“Darling,canyoucomeinhere?”sheyelledwithouttakinghereyesoffFarage.Ateenageboy,skinny,shortandMiddleEastern,appearedfromtheotherendofthecottage,hisshort

andwavyhairshiningandhisdarkeyesstaringatFaragearrogantly.“GoandgetapoisonousflyforourfriendBernard.Heisindesperateneedofone.”Without uttering a word, the boy walked out of the living room and started climbing the stairs

opposite.“Iwilltakecareofitpersonally,”saidFarage.“No,youwon’t.Findahumanwhohasnotyetproventheirloyaltytoustooursatisfaction,”saidthe

royalwhile getting up from her chair. She then slowly approached him and said, “After the deed isdone,rewardthehumanandinformourdearvicarthatunlesstheentirevillageishandedtous,youwillpersonallyorganisethepiedpiperstolandontheirdoorsteps.DoImakemyselfclear?”Faragenoddedandsuddenlyheardfootsteps.Heturnedaroundandsawtheteenagerstandingbehind

him.“Hereyougo,”saidtheadolescent.Heextendedhisarmandopenedhispalm.Faragenoticeda small tattooonhis rightwrist. Itwas

round,withoutlinesofthesilhouetteofwhatseemedtobeaface.Itwastheroyalfamily’sinsignia.Theonlypeopleallowedtowearitweretheirmosttrustedandloyallocalservants.Faragerealisedthathewasfacingoneofthem.Theroyalfamilyhadbeenenslavinghumansforcenturies,andrumourhaditthatthedescendantsof

thosehumanswereimmediatelybornintoslavery.SincehisarrivalonEarth,hehadyettomeetoneofhighrank,untilthisday.Theslaveswererankedfromthelowercastetothehighercaste.Thelower-casteslaveswerethose

withnovalueotherthanforuseinscientificexperimentsorhumanbehaviourstudies.Theywerejustgiventhebareminimumtosurvive,becausetheirlifeexpectancywassoshort.Thecastejustabovethelowercastewasconsiderednecessaryformanuallabourandnothingmore.

They,too,weregiventhebareminimumbutwereallowedtoliveintheirownhomes,unlikethelowercaste,whowerekeptinconfinement.The lower-middle caste were used for their intellectual prowess, and they were given better

accommodationsthanthelowercastes,andalsobonusesduringreligiousholidays.

Thehigher-middlecastewerealsousedfortheirintellectualprowess,butduetotheirintellectbeingfarsuperiortoanyothercaste’s,theywerekeptinrelativeluxuryandgivenachancetojointhehigher-casterank.The last caste was the higher caste. They were slaves only on paper. They had willingly offered

themselvestotheroyalfamily,andnoonewasabovethem,besidesthealiensthemselves.Theywereextremelywealthyandhadcontroloverallother slavesand took theirordersdirectly from the royalfamilyandnooneelse.Farage grabbed the transparent box holding three flies and brought it to eye level. They were

miniature robot flies infusedwith poison.Their technicians had designed them especially for use onhumans.Hebowedtotheroyal,whonodded,signifyingtheendofthemeeting,andleft.Theroyalthenturned

totheadolescent,stillsittingonherchairwithherarmsrestingcomfortablyonthechairarms,andsaid,“Watchhischosenoneclosely.Iftheyrefusetoexecutetheboy,orifanythinggoeswrong,Iwillexpectyoutofinishthemissionforthem.”Theboynoddedaffirmatively,thenlefttheroom,followingthesamerouteFaragehadtaken.

The next day, Faragewas back in J. C.MaxwellAcademy, the boarding schoolwhere he had beenworkingforyears.Hewaslookingaroundthediningroom.HehadspottedNigelWeatherford,sonofGatewayHill’svicar,NormanWeatherford.Heturnedtoaskinny,paleblondewomanwithbrowneyesandwearingananimal-printdress.Heaskedher,“Areyouready?”Shenoddedyes,thenopenedthepalmofherhand.Initwasthetransparentbox.Sheopenedthebox

and an alreadymoving robotic fly flew away. The poisonous fly had been the preferredmethod ofkillingforthegroupinordertoavoidtheattentionofthepoliceandsheddoubtonthevictim’sfamily’sclaimthattheirlovedonehadbeenmurdered.Despiteherrepugnanceatkillingachild,CandiceDujardinwasdeterminedtocarryouthermission.

Shehadalreadygivenuptoomuch;anadditionaldeadchildwouldn’tchangemuch.Itwentwithoutahitch.Afterthefoodstationshadbeenopenedandthestudentshadmadetheirchoice,theysatdown.Assoonastheysatdown,theynoticedaflycirclingaroundtheyoungeststudents’table.Afewofthemtriedtochaseitawaybywavingtheirhands,anditseemedtohavedisappeared.Afewminuteslater,theflyreappeared,landedontheyoungWeatherford,thenflewoutanearbywindow.Weatherfordhadjuststartedtoeathissaladwhenheturnedredandgrabbedhisthroat,strugglingto

breathe.Theboynexttohimgrabbedhimjustashewasfallingfromthetablebench.Otherstudentsgotupandtriedtohelp,carryinghimandlayinghimonthefloorwhiletheotherstudentsrantogethelpfromtheteachers.Itwasunnecessary.Theyhadwatchedthesceneandwerequicktorespond.Weatherfordwasstillclingingtohisfriend’shand,hiseyesfilledwithfear.Heeventuallypulledhis

otherhandupandgrabbedhisfriend’sshirt.Thenhefellonthefloorwhilehisfriendtriedtogethold

ofhim.Assoonashehittheground,helostconsciousness.Other staff members took the students away, and they all watched the paramedics come in and

examineWeatherford. Dujardin was still supervising the hit; she watched a paramedic leaning overWeatherford. He raised his head, looked at the school staff facing him and shook it negatively.Weatherford’sart teacherscreamedandslowlyslippeddownall thewayto thefloorandcoveredhermouthwithherhands.Otherscamedown toher leveland tried tohelpherup,but shepushed themaway.Theparamedicstransportedthelittleboy’scorpsetotheambulance.Standing at the back of the room, watching silently, was a young boy. His dark eyes met with

Dujardin’sbrowneyes.Sheraisedherheadindefianceandhesmiled.Sheisofficiallyoneofusnow,hethought.Thenextday,thevicar,withtheassistanceofthevillagemayor,allowedthegrouptotakefullcontrol

ofGatewayHill.

A sdifficultasitwasforustoleaveYanara,wewereprettyexcitedtobesenttoSurrey.Wehad heard from our family members how beautiful Surrey Hills was, but we were notpreparedforwhatwesaw.Theregionwasstunning.Thelandandthetreeswerestillgreen

whenwearrivedinSeptember,butwecouldalreadyseesomepatchesoforangeandyellowannouncingautumn’sarrival.MostYanchildrengraduated fromschoolat theageofsixteenandstartedmilitaryservice for two

years. The members of the Ten, however, were sent toMasani boarding schools and only attendedmilitaryserviceduringthesummer,sotheirmilitaryservicewasextended.ThisrequiredthemtostartFIST,ourfightingskillstraining,attheageoffourteenforboysandtenforgirls,whichwasthecaseformysister,Amelia,andme.I,DianaAmaraBoubaKorsning,wasfromthesovereignduchyofYanar,andamemberoftheTen,Yanar’srulingfamilies.ThesovereignduchyofYanarwasbornathousandyearsago.ItwascreatedbyYansfromallover

theworldwhohad to flee their countriesafterbeingpersecuted forhaving supernaturalpowers.TheYans acquired their powers thanks to an event that happened in a parallel dimension to Earth.

Unbeknowntohumanbeings,aworldcalledHendu,whichwastechnologicallymuchmoreadvancedthanEarth,hadbecomeawareofitsexistence.TheHendus,inanattempttocrossovertoEarthandgainmoreinformationabouthumans,triedto

createabreachbetweentheirworldandEarththatwouldallowthemtocrossover.Theresultwasnotwhattheyhadhopedfor.Insteadofallowingthemtocrossover,theexperimentcreatedanexplosionsostrongthatitdestroyedoneoftheirownneighbouringplanets.The energy deriving from the destroyed planet broke a tiny part of the veil separatingEarth from

HenduandinfectedtenpercentofEarth’spopulation.Thehumansinfectedbytheenergyderivingfromthe exploding planet in the parallel universe developed supernatural powers and decided to callthemselvesYans.The tears in theveilseparating the twouniversesappeared inafewpartsof theworldat thesame

time.Thelocalsonlyreportedseeingabrightlightthatcameoverthem,andnothingelse.Itwasn’tuntilafter they startedprocreating that they realised that their childrenweredifferent fromother children.They were taller, stronger, smarter and even more beautiful than the others; they stood apart fromeveryonearoundthem,eventheirownparents.Aftersometime,theyrealisedthatafterthegirlsbegantheirmenstruation,theystartedtodevelopsupernaturalabilities.Astimewenton,thelocalsstartedtofeartheseextraordinarychildrenmoreandmore,somuchso

thatthefamilieswhosedependantswereshowinganysignofNephilim-likequalitieswererelocatedtotheedgeofeachvillage.Eventually, tension started to erupt between the gifted and the non-gifted, with some non-Yan

inhabitantsbelievingthattheYans’abilitieswereagiftfromthegodsandthatthevillagesshouldberunbythemandnottheactuallordsoftheland.Fearingfortheirstandinginthecommunity,somelordstriedtoexterminatetheYansandburntheir

homes,whileinotherplacesYansweresimplychasedoutoftheirhomeswithtorchesandpitchforks.Insomeplaces,theYansandtheirfamiliesmanagedtoflee,butinothers,themobsweremetwithdeadlyforceandkilled.Inretaliationfortheattemptsontheirlives,theYansdestroyedthelords’homesandfields,thenleftandbuilttheirownsociety.Forfearofbeingattackedandchasedontheirwaytotheirnewland,theylivedasnomadsuntilthey

couldfindaplacetocalltheirown.Theywouldstoptheirwanderingjustlongenoughtoreplenishtheirprovisionsandselltheirskills.Slowlybutsurely,theystartedtohearofotherslikethem,searchingforalandoftheirown.Theygatheredtogetherwhenevertheycouldandleftsignsforotherstofollow.TheyeventuallysettledonaseriesofislandsinthePacificOceanandintimewerejoinedbyother

Yans.IttookusYansoverahundredyearstoallbetogether,butweeventuallyfoundourwaytoourpromisedland.AtfirstYanarwasonlyinhabitedbyYans.Yearsandyearsofsilenceandnocontacthadmadethe

memory of enhanced people nothing but a legend, and people forgot all about their existence until

eventuallynon-giftedindividualsstartedcomingto the islands,explorerssentbykingsandqueensinsearchofrichesandgoldfortheirsovereign.Notwantingtobeinvadedbynon-giftedindividuals,theYans destroyed the explorers’ boats, and the explorerswere given a choice: remain inYanar foreverwithnocontactwiththeoutsideworld,ordeath.TheychosetoremainandprotectthesecretofYanar’sinhabitants.Eventually,theyadaptedandstartedfamilieswiththeYans.However,afterawhile,itwasdiscovered

that in some families, although one of the parentswasYan, the childrenwere bornwith no specialabilitiesatall.TheycouldbeMasani,thenamegiventonon-giftedindividuals.However,thesechildrenwouldstillcarrythebluegenes,thegenesfromwhichYanpowerscame,andthereforecouldproduceaYanchildwithabilities.BeingcutofffromtheworldallowedtheYanstoforgeasocietyadaptedtotheirgifts,andunlikethe

restoftheworld,nothinghappenedtohindertheirscientificprogress,whichallowedthemtobecomevery advanced. They advanced so quickly, and their numbers grew so rapidly, that they decided tocolonisealargepartoftheArcticandnameditYanara,whichwasmyhometown.TheYanpowerholdersweredividedintosixgroups:water,air,rock,fire,energyandomni.TheYan

culturewasbasedontwoprinciples:strengthandintellect.ThelongjourneythattheYanshadhadtomakeinordertofindahomeandthenlaterestablishtheirsocietymadethemrealisethathumanswerenotfarfromanimalswhentheyfeltthreatened,andthreatenedwaswhattheyfelteverytimeagroupoftravelling Yans came close to their villages or cities. To avoid being slaughtered and having theirchildrenbecomewhattheirenemieswere,theYansestablishedacodeofconduct.Nomatterwheretheywereorhowmanyenemiestheywerefacing,thoserulesneededtobelivedby.Althoughveryfewboyswerebornwithpowers,theYanmalescouldstillreceivepowersiftheywere

transferredtothembyabloodrelative.Thatactionwascalledgenetictransferandwasonlyallowedincases of extremenecessity, like awar, becausegenetic transfers couldbe lethal to the receiver.Thatpowerwastoberetransferredtoafemalerelativeafterthewartoavoidthepowerbeingwasted.Unlike the girls, the Yanmales could not transfer their power over to their descendants, because

powerswere transferred frommother to child.Allpowerswerepretty common, except forone: fire.Thefirepowerwasnotonlyextremelyrarebutalsodidnotdiscriminate.Whenthegeneappeared,itcould do so in a boy or a girl. Itwas also considered a sign of danger, because the fire power onlyrevealeditselfincasesofgreatperilfortheYans.TheFirstWorldWar broughtmoreMasanis to the shores ofYanar than ever before.Generally, it

wouldhavebeeninhabitantsofneighbouringislandsseekingabetterlife,orjustadventurers,butthistimetheYanshadsoldiersat theirdoors.Thegeneralcouncilknewthatwith theirnumbersgrowing,they couldn’t allow that many aliens to remain with them, and killing all of them was out of thequestion,soadecisionwasreached:theywouldreturnthecapturedsoldierstotheirhomeland,andaninvisiblewallwouldbebuiltaroundallYanarterritoriestostopallnon-Yansfromentering.

JustastheyfinishedbuildingYanara,thecityintheArctic,thecouncil,knowinghowevilandgreedyMasani governments could be, prepared forwar and had to accelerate themove to theArctic.As itturnedout,thewarcouncilwasright.Assoonasthesoldiersreturnedtotheirhomeland,itdidnottakelongfortheirgovernmentstosendboatsandplanestoYanar,andtheYanswerereadyforthem.What happened next was unexpected for both sides. The fight had barely started when the Yans

realisedhoweasilytheycouldwinovertheMasanis.Muchtotheirchagrin,theMasaniswerequicklydefeated.TheYanshadprepared themselves forapossibleDavidversusGoliath scenario,but itwasbabyDavidversusGoliath.TheMasaniswerehundredsofyearsbehindtheYansintechnology,nottomentiontheirlackofanysupernaturalattributes.Thecouncilreturnedthesoldierstotheirgovernmentsand destroyed their planes and boats with a clear warning: come back again, and face the totalannihilationofyourcountriesandyourinhabitants.From that moment on, the Masani governments kept trying to get in contact with the Yans.

Eventually,thegeneralcouncilrealisedthatthelackofcontactwiththeMasaniworldwasaweaknessontheYans’part,andtheyagreedtohavediplomaticrelationswiththem,whichweredelayedbytheSecondWorldWar.The horrors that resulted fromWorldWar Two convinced thewar council that theMasanis were

nothing but savages unworthy of their friendship, and the military budget and research for betterweaponswas tripled in preparation for awarwith theMasanis, if it ever came to that. The generalcouncilandthecouncilofinterioraffairsdisagreed,soacompromisewasreached.After the war, embassies were opened in many countries, and a small, regulated number of

immigrantswereallowedtomovetoYanarandliveamongtheYansunderstrictconditionsdecidedbythe council of interior affairs. In return, the samewouldbe allowed forYan families in all countrieswhereaYanembassywaslocated.AfewfamiliesweresenttotheMasaniworldinordertowatchtheirprogressionmorecloselyandreporton theirwayof lifeandculturefromaground-levelperspective.The settlers were forbidden from using their supernatural abilities in theMasani world. It was alsoforbiddentosharetechnologywiththem.ThenewsfilledmanyYanswithjoy;thedesiretogoandseetheirancestrallandswasacalltheyhad

wantedtorespondtoforcenturies,andnowtheopportunitywaspresentingitself.ThemigrationwascarefullyplannedtorespecttheagreementsmadewiththeMasanigovernments,

whichwas fairly easy because theMasaniswere so curious about theYanworld, and so hopeful tobenefitfromtheirfriendshipwiththeYangovernment,thattheagreementssignedwerequiterelaxed.Arriving in theMasaniworld felt like arriving in theStoneAge to theYans,but itwasotherwise

agreeable. Itwent sowell thatbefore theYangeneralcouncil realised it, theyhad representativesallover theworld.With theYanculturebeingverydifferent fromother cultures, the immigrantshad toopentheirownschoolsandliveinthesameneighbourhoodsaseachothertopreservetheircultureand

teach thenewgenerationabout theYanwayof life,aswellas return toYanar foravisitasmuchaspossible.The news of the superhumans’ existence spread everywhere. Hordes of people surrounded Yan

embassiestogetaglimpseoftheYansandtriedtogetavisatovisitYanar,butwithnovisasallowed,thefadpassed.ItwasalsoimpossibletoknowwhowasaYanornotwithoutbeingtold,althoughmanymoviesweremadeaboutYans.

I nYanar,graduationyearwascalled theyearofascension.Thismeant thatanychildholdingagraduation certificate was ready for an adult life. After my graduation ceremony, my mothercalled me into her office. I knew that it was an important meeting, because she looked very

serious.Sheexplainedtomethattheyhaduncoveredsomeirregulardisturbanceinsomepartsoftheworld.“Whatkindofdisturbance?”Iasked.Shesaidthatitwasthekindofdisturbancethatcouldbreachtheveilseparatingusfromtheparallel

world.Thatwasworrying.YanarwasalreadyatwarwithanalienracewhoweretryingtoinvadeEarth.Myfatherwas leadingourspaceforces,andhehad thealienfleetcornered justpastUranus,but I

wasworriedthatwemaynothavehadmucharmyleftonthegroundforatwo-frontwar.“IfIdidn’tknowbetter,IwouldthinkthattheMasanishavefoundawaytocrosstotheotherside,”

shesaid.“ButIdoknowbetter,andIknowforafactthattheydonotpossesssuchtechnology,letalonethenecessarypowerstodoso,”sheadded.

Allthistimeitwasasifshewastalkingtoherself,staringatherdesk.Shefinallyraisedherhead,herblueeyeslookingstraightatme,andsaid,“Thatiswhereyoucomein.Althoughyouareonlyfifteen,youhavemanaged tograduateandarenowofficiallyascended,andIhavehadverygoodreportsonyourperformancesinFIST.”Mymotherwasn’tonetogiveherchildrencompliments,soIwasprettysurprisedandhappy.Isat

morecomfortablyonmychairandstaredbackatherwithaproudlookonmyfaceandacheekygrin.Shesaid,“I’mgoingtosendyoutotheUK.ThestrongestreadinghasbeendetectedinSurrey.Ineed

youtoinvestigatetheanomalies,findoutwhatorwhoiscausingthemandreporttome.Donotengagewithanyone.Yourjobistoreport,nottostoptheperpetuators.”“Verywell,Mother,”Isaid.“YouwillbegoingwithAmelia.Shehasn’treachedtheageofascensionyet,butwithyourbrothers

atthefrontandmebusywiththegeneralcouncil,I’dpreferhertobewithyou.Makesuresheissafe,andkeepupwithhertraining.”“Yes,Mother,”Ianswered.“YouwillalsobegoingwiththeWutwinsandafewotherYans.Theirparentshavevolunteeredtheir

servicesincaseoftrouble.Theyknownothingaboutthemission,andI’dpreferthattheyremaininthedark.TheonlypersonyouwillclueinisPam.Doyouunderstand?”Inoddedyes,butinsideIwasthinking,Hellno.I’llclueAlexin.Pamwilldoitherself,anyway,and

ifanyoftheotherYanshappentobemyfriends,I’llcluethemintoo.Sorry,Mother.“Youcangonow,child.It’salmosttimetochatwithyourfather,”shesaid.Themeetingwasover.Yanparentswerenotknownfortheiraffectionatewaystowardstheirchildren.

TheYansbelievedthatifparentsshowedtoomuchaffectiontowardstheirchildren,itwouldmakethechildrenweak,andthereforelower-qualitysoldiers.Couples, however, were very affectionate towards each other, to the point of embarrassment for

childrensometimes.PublicdisplaysofaffectiontowardsapartnerwereverycommoninYanar.ButnowhereIwas,abouttoembarkonasecretmission,andmymotherwasshowingthatshecared

aboutmywellbeingbymakingsurethatIwouldnotbealoneinSurrey.IeventuallyfoundoutthatAmeliaandIwerebeingsenttoaboardingschoolcalledJ.C.Maxwell

Academy.ItusedtobeaCatholicboardingschoolbuthadbeendonatedtoSurreyCountyCouncil,anditwasthebestschoolinthevicinityoftheanomalyrecordedbytheYansciencecouncil.Thereasongiven to theUKgovernment forchoosingJ.C.Maxwellas theschool tosendme, the

future leader of Yanar, to was that J.C. was a very popular school among our people. The UKgovernmentwasconcernedbythelackofsecurityaroundAmeliaandmeatJ.C.,buttheyweretoldbythecouncilthataslongasnooneknewthatweweremembersoftheTen,therewasnothingtofear.Itwasn’tdifficulttoconvincetheForeignandCommonwealthOffice.AlthoughJ.C.hadbecomea

non-religious school, they had maintained the high level of standards implemented by the previous

owners.ItdidnottakelongforustogettoGatewayHill,thevillageadjacenttotheschool.Thevillagehad

actuallybeenbuilttoprovideaccommodationfortheworkersandtheirfamiliesduringtheconstructionoftheschool.Thenlateritwasusedfortheschoolstaffandtheirfamilies.As timewent by,more andmore peoplemoved toGatewayHill, and by the time the schoolwas

donated to Surrey County Council, the village had become a town on its own and was no longerassociatedwiththeCatholicchurchorevenconsideredanextensionoftheschoolgrounds.Gateway Hill was even more picturesque than I had thought. It was situated between Bowlhead

GreenandMilford.IhadheardthatsincechangingitsnamefromCeastertoGatewayHill,thevillagehadbeenattractingalargenumberofvisitors,whichwasnotunlikewhatIwaswitnessing.Thereseemedtobealotofpeoplevisiting.IfIhadn’tknownbetter,IwouldIhavethoughtthatthere

wasaconferenceofsomesorthappening.Whenwestoppedandaskedaround,weweretoldthatitwasoftenthatwayinautumn,whentheyhadallkindsofattractionsorganisedbythetownhalltooccupyvisitors.Wewerealsotoldthatthevillagehadbeenrenovatedtomakeitlooklikeyouhadsteppedbackin

time. They were right. Its reputation for its honey-coloured seventeenth-century-lookalike stonecottageswithsteeplypitchedroofswasnotexaggerated.Itwasstunning.GatewayHillhadbeenbuiltaroundThursleyLake,whichmeantthatthelakecutthroughthemiddle

ofthevillage.Eachsidehadasimilarconcentrationandscaleofdevelopment.Despitethebeautyaroundme,Icouldn’thelpbutfeelapinchinmyheart.Theseaoftouristshadjust

remindedmeofmybelovedYanaraanditsincessantcrowds,butassoonasweleftGatewayHill,themost spectacular and terrifying viewwe had seen so farwas standing in front of us: J.C.MaxwellAcademy,morecommonlycalledJ.C.It was beautiful, surrounded by dense woodland that looked like an enchanted forest without the

fairies.SometimesIthinkthatifsomeonehadlistenedverycarefully,theywouldhavesworntheyhadheardthewindsingingasitwaspassingthrough,followingusallthewaytotheschool.Thewholebuildingwasbuiltonahill,almostlikeitwasdugin.Theentrancewasinthemaincourt,

whichwasbuiltinthestyleofaSpanishmonastery.Aftercrossingthemaincourt,weendedupinfrontofathree-storeybuilding.Thegroundfloorwasmadeofarchesthatletusseeintotheclassrooms.Thefirstfloorwasalsomade

upof classrooms, and the second floorwaswhere the staff could rest andhave their tea.The entirebuildingwaswhite,butinsidethebuildingthewallswerecoveredwithtinygreenandbluetiles,givingan underwater feel. Themiddle court was reserved for sport activities. After crossing the court, wecould go inside a building with multiple rooms made for all types of activities like fencing andswimming,aswellasculinaryclassesanddanceclasses.

Ontheothersideofthebuilding,thereweredifferentcourtsforoutsidesportssuchasfootball,rugby,basketball,tennisandsoon.Thetop-levelcourtwaswherethesecondentrancewaslocated,aswellasthedormitories.Thedormitorieswerelarge,ancientfour-storeybuildingsdecoratedinwhatcouldonlybedescribedasanItalianstyle.Theleftsidewasfortheboys,andtherightsidewasforthegirls.Thediningroom,library,studyroomsandrelaxationrooms,aswellasplayrooms,wereallonthegroundfloor.Ihadexpectedtofindsomegreeneryinsidethewalls,butithadexceededmyexpectations.Themost

surprisingthingaboutthosetreeswasthatsomeofthemwerefruittrees,butaswefoundoutlater,itwas forbidden topickanyof them,andabiblical sin toeat any.The schoolheadmasterhimselfhadforbiddenit,andmanystudentshadtheorisedatthetimethathemighthavewantedtoavoidalawsuitincaseofanaccidenthappening.AnotherthingIhadnoticedwasthatmostofthedaystudentswerefromGatewayHill.Ourschool

wasaboardingschool,butitobviouslytookinalotofstudentsfromthevillage.Asperfect-lookingastheschoolwas,therewassomethingverystrangeaboutit.Mymotherwasright;somethingwasintheair.Itwasuptometofindoutwhat.IhadfeltadisturbanceintheairassoonasIgottoJ.C.,andeverydaysince.Ascleanandfreshas

theairwas,itfeltheavierontheskinthanLondon’s,whichwasalotmorepolluted.Icouldalsofeelachill,asifIhadlandedinMordor,andSauron’seyewaswatchingmewhilesuckingupthegoodenergythatsurroundedus.Ihadexpectedtobesharingaroomwithmysister,butthatwasnotthecase.Theroomsforstudents

agedsixteenandoverwerefortwostudentsmaximum.AlthoughIwasonlyfifteen,Iwasinthesamegradeassixteen-year-oldstudents,andendedupbeingplacedonthesamefloorasthem.The roomwas small and a disappointment. Therewere two single beds, which did notmakeme

happy, because I loved to roll around in my bed. The other annoying thing was the size of ourcupboards–clearly,theydidnotintendforustobringalotofclothes.Althoughwewouldbewearingauniform,noonewouldkeepitonafterclasses.Thewallsweremagnolia,whichmademehappy,andwehadbeentold thatalthoughwewerenot

allowedtochangeanythingintheroom,wewereallowedtoputuppostersanddecorateaswewished,as longaswedidnotdamage theoriginalpaint.Therewerealso twosmallstudydeskswithenoughspaceforourlaptops,andonewindowwithaviewontothemaincourt.Iwouldhavebeenveryupset,ifmysisterhadnotbeenonthenextfloorwithgirlsofthesameage

andwhoseemedtobelovely.Theyoungergirlswerefourperroomandfromagestwelvetofourteen.Thedécorwasexactly thesameasoursexcept that theyhadmuchbigger roomsandmorecupboardspace.Iwasamazedbythediningroom,andthemenuwewereofferedwasimpressive.Itwasobviousthat

theplaceusedtobeaCatholicschool,becausethebaroquestylewasnotunderstated.Thediningroom

had four arches painted in gold, and each arch had a different food station. The first was themeatstation,thesecondwasseafood,thethirdwassaladandvegetables,andthelastonewasthesidesandotheraccompaniments.I had expected long tables like in Cambridge University colleges, but that was not the case.We

instead had rectangular wooden tables next to each other. The room was vast, with a high ceilingpaintedingold,andthedoorswerebigdarkwoodendoorswithredcurtains.Thefloorwascarpeted,anditwasdarkredlikethecurtains.Behindthecurtainswereverylargesixteenth-centurywindows.Alargetableatthefrontoftheroomwasreservedfortheteachers,whogotasit-downmeal.Iwasabouttocomplainthattherewasnodessertstationwhenweweretoldbytheotherstudentsthat

unlikeothercourses,thedessertstationwouldbebroughtoutlaterandwasalwaysadisappointmentintasteandportionsize.Typical,Ithought.Asusual,myfavouritepartofthemealistheworst.Iwasn’tsittingwithmysister,Amelia.Shehadchosentositwithhernewfriends,soIsatbymyself

andwasquicklyjoinedbyafamiliarface.ItwasHoganMacConraoiCroise,achildhoodfriendofthefamilyandafellowYan.HoganlookedlikewhatIexpectedJamesBondhadlookedlikeasateenager.Hewastallandhad

oliveskinlikeaFrench-manoranItalian,darkhair,darkeyesandasquarejaw.Hewasconsideredtobe quite handsome, and he knew it,whichmade him a bit fond of himself, but hewas a very goodpersonnevertheless.I had never been so happy to see anyone inmy life. I screamed and hugged him. Then I started

pushinghimandhittinghimplayfully.Icouldn’tbelievehehadnottoldmethathewasgoingtoattendJ.C.onthedayofmygoodbyeparty.Hekeptlaughingandadmittedthatithadbeenaveryhardsecrettokeepandthathehadbeggedhis

parentsnottotellminethathewouldjoinAmeliaandme,becausehewantedtosurpriseme.IsuddenlyrealisedthatHogan’smotherhadsigneduphersontobackmeupincaseIneededhelp,

andhedidn’tknowanythingaboutit.I could only hope that he would not be too angry. Hogan was a Greek Yan. Greek Yans were

Olympians,whichmeantthattheyworshippedGreekgods.Their gods allowed them to dedicate a lot of their time to fun and parties but not much more,

especiallynottowardspreparingforunscheduledbattles.Historyhadproven thatnot tellinganOlympian inadvance thathemightbe facingabattlewasa

verybigmistake.Icouldonlyhopethatwhenthetimecame,Hoganwouldn’tdirecthisangertowardsme.Heintroducedmetohisroommate,namedWilliamEvansClarke.Iwasalmoststar-struck;hewas

thebest-lookingguyIhadeverseen.Hewasgorgeous.IfIhadn’tknownbetter,IwouldhaveswornthatourgodThorhimselfwasstandinginfrontofme.Hewastall,fair-skinned,muscularbutnotover

thetop,andhadstrikingdeep-blueeyesandlonggolden-blondhair.Iwasprettysurethat therewerecountrieswherebeingthatgood-lookingwasillegal.To make matters worse, I couldn’t think of anything to say to him. I wanted to sound cool and

relaxed,buteverythingwashappeningsofast,andthebestIcoulddowastogetupandgivehimmyhandtoshake.Hetookitandsaid,“Nicetomeetyou,”andwesatdown.Inoddedandgavehimtheworld’smostforcedsmile.HesmiledbackandIalmostfainted.Theboys’dormitorieswerethesameasthegirls’,fromwhatIunderstood,anditfeltgreattoknow

thatwewouldbeabletohangouttogetherquiteoften.Ittooktwodaysformyroommatetoarrive.HernamewasScarlettRamseySneddon.WhenIfirstlaideyesonher,Iwasquitesurprised;shelookedliketheJapanesemangacharacterGeorgie.Shewaswearingagorgeousgrey-and-whiteautumnswingdresswith short sleevesand twoblack

strips,oneunderherchestandtheotherjustoverherhips,whichmadeherwaistlooktinydespitehersize-fourteenframe.Shehadverylongblondehairwithbigcurls.Shehadbigblueeyes,rosycheeks,whichwerealittlebitcurvy,pinklips,abigsmileand,uncommonlyforaMasanigirlasfarasIhadnoticedsinceleavingYanara,didn’thavemake-upalloverherface.Shewasabubblyandsweetgirl,andwehititoffrightaway.Iwasoverthemoon;thesenseofdread

I’dfeltwhenIhadarrivedattheschoolwascompletelygone.Iwasstartingtofeelthattheyearwasgoingtobefantastic,andIwasright;theschoolwasstartingtolooklikeaprimaryschoolreuniontome.I soon realised that Pamela RafnkellWuwas two doors down fromme. Pamela and her brother

Alexander,mostcommonlyknownasPamandAlex,wereformerclassmatesofHoganandmine.Pamwasaverygoodviolinist,andAlexatalentedpianist.Pamwasatallgirlwithlongdarkhair.ShewasoneofthemostbeautifulgirlsinJ.C..Shewasactuallysobeautifulthateverytimewewere

onholidayintheMasaniworld,wewouldoftengetaskedifwewantedtodomodelling,orweregivenbusinesscardsby somephotographer. Inmycase theywouldoften say that Iwouldbe suitableasaplus-size model, which was ludicrous, since I was only a size twelve and considered quite smallcomparedtotheYanarastandard.Pam’stwin,Alex,wasverytallaswell,andunlikemetheywerefromYanarCity.YanarCitywasour

capitalandwasin thePacific,anditwasquitehotallyear long,whichmeant that theywereusedtowearingalmostnothingatall.InYanarawesaidthatsouthernerswerewealthybecausetheyneverspentapennyonclothesexceptforswimwear,and,ofcourse,asthegoodsouthernerthatshewas,herewasPamwearingagorgeouslight-brownfloral-patternedshortjumpsuitwithahalter-neckandopenback.Shelookedstunning.IdidnotregretwearingmyembroideredbohemianbacklessV-neckdresswith

longsleeves.Iwouldhavepalednexttoherotherwise.Pam’sroommatewasaMasanigirlnamedDelphineCrawleyLongchamp.I likedherimmediately.

Shewasshortandcurvy,notwhatyouwouldcallpretty,butshehada tonofcharm.Andwhenshe

smiled, her face lit up, and she suddenly started to look like the statue ofFjörgyn inYanara,with acheekypersonalitytogowithit.

T heschoolwasgreat.Thefewstudentsthatwehadreallygottentoknowwerelovelypeople.Ihad updated Pam about our mission, but she agreed with my mother. She asked that weinformtheboysonlyifitwasstrictlynecessary,sothatwaswhatwedid.

IwasreallystartingtoenjoytheMasaniwayoflife.WeknewsolittleabouttheMasaniworld,andeverythingsoundedandlookedsostrangethatwecomplainedtootherYans.WewereadvisedbyolderYanstowatchsomethingcalled“realityTV”.Asshockingasitsounded,

theMasanis,itseemed,documentedeveryaspectoftheirlivesandplayeditonairforanyonetosee.Asentertainingasitwas,ImustadmitthatitdiddamagemyopinionoftheMasanicultureslightly.

Their reality television reinforcedmybelief that theYan culturewas far superior.After Scarlett andDelphine discovered that we were watching reality TV as a reference to their culture, they werehorrified.Theybothgaveusalistofprogrammestowatchthatwouldbemoreeducational,aswellasalistof

movies,whichbecamemyfavourite.InYanarwedidnothavetelevisionorcinemas,andbeingintroducedtoitconvincedmethatthefirst

thingtodoinYanarwhenIbecameduchesswouldbetointroducemovingpicturestotheduchy.

Butinthemeantime,asmuchasIhadpromisednotto,Iwasstillwatchingrealitytelevision,withmyfavouritesbeingTheRealHousewivesofAtlanta,CountingOnandMasterChefAustralia.Thehoneymoondidnotlastlong.Afewweeksafterwearrived,whileinchemistryclass,wehearda

commotion.Teacherswerecalledoutof theirclassroomsandasked togogethelp.Wedidnotknowwhy.Iwasterriblycurious.Whatcouldhavepossiblybeensobadthatallthelecturershadtogooffandrunafterwhoknewwhat?Our lecturercameback in,andI thought thatwewereabout tofindoutwhathappened,butallhe

saidwasthatweweretobeconfinedtoourrooms.Schoolwasinterrupted,andourparentswerecalled,soinsteadofhavingaseriouslygoodtimegossiping,wehadtopromisethemtobehaveandstayinourrooms.SalvationformybruisedcuriositycamefromAmelia,whoseFrenchclasswasoppositethesceneof

thecommotion. Iwasworriedabouther, so Iwentandpickedherup,whichwaswhen Igotall theinformationIneeded.A fourteen-year-old boy had climbed up one of the fruit trees and fallen and died.His namewas

WadeAllenTillerson. Itdidnot take longforus to realise that ithadbecomeamediasensation.WelearnedthathisfatherwasdeputycommissionerofScotlandYardandthathehadlosthismotherafewyearsago.Themosttroublingthingwasthathismother,JoanCarterAllen,hadkilledherselfbyjumpingoffa

building.Asmuch as Iwas sad forMrTillerson, I couldn’t help but find the death of his son verytroubling,especiallyashehaddiedfromafallaswell.A few days later, Amelia came to find me in my room and told me that she was bothered by

something she had found out about Tillerson’s death. I shared with her my discomfort about thesimilaritybetweenhisandhismother’sdeaths,andsheagreedwithme.Thatafternoon,shetoldmethatastudentwhohadbeensittingnexttoawindowfacingthetreefrom

whichTillersonhadfallenhadseenaplasticbottlebeingthrownjustbeforethefall.Hehadn’tthoughtmuchaboutitatfirst,butafterfurtherthought,hehadrealisedthatTillersonmusthavethrownitbeforehisfall.Normally, Iwouldhavedismissed the information.The“witness”wasnoneother thanmysister’s

friendSorel,ahorriblelittletrollwithaveryvividimaginationandatalentforputtinghisnosewhereitdid not belong.But that information, if itwas true,would add some serious juice tomy theory thatsomethingveryweirdwasgoingonintheschool.Afterafewenquiries,Irealisedthatforthefirsttime,Sorelwasrightandhadbeentellingthetruth.

Notonlywashenottheonlyonewhohadseenabottleintheair,butbeforeweknewit,allsortsofrumourshadstartedtoflyaroundtheschoolaboutTillerson’sdeath,andfromwhatIcouldfigureout,thiswasnotthefirsttimethattheangelofdeathhadvisitedourschool.

Itwas,however, thefirst timethatthedeadstudenthadbeenthechildofawealthyandinfluentialperson.Itwasasifalighthadgoneoninmyhead.Myentirebodywastellingme,Yes,Iknewit.Iknewsomethingwasoffwith the school, even if I still couldn’t saywhat, and Ihadn’t seenany

evidenceofanyonedoinganything,sowhynotconcentrateonsomethingelse?IdecidedtoconductmyowninvestigationinordertovalidateordebunkthemultiplerumoursIhad

heard.Theideawastinglingmybodyallover.Ilikedbeinginschool,butIwasstartingtofindlifeinaboardingschoolabitdullandslow,soanyneweventwaslikeYulehadcomeearlyforme.I called Hogan after that and asked to meet with him after school. Although Hogan was a very

sardonicperson,hewasalsoaverygoodfriendand,justlikeme,lovedplayingHerculePoirotorMissMarple,soIknewhewouldn’tmakefunofme.Tomydismay,heshowedupwithWilliam.AssoonasIsawthem,Iwantedtoscream,“NOOOOOOOOOO!”Fromthemoment IhadmetWilliam,myhearthadstopped listening tome.Every timeIgotnear

him,myheartwouldstartracing,mylegswouldgoweak,andIwouldfeelunwell.Unfortunatelyforme,hewasalwayswithHogan,andwithHoganbeingaverygoodfriendofmine,IhadnochoicebuttoendurebeingaroundWilliam.ThingsgotalotmorecomplicatedwhenPam,Delphine,ScarlettandIattractedtheattentionofthe

resident popularmean girls of J.C.Theywouldmagically appearwheneverwegot together inmaincourt,sittingunderatree,orinGatewayHill,tryingtoenjoyourselves.Wesharedalotofclasseswiththemeangirls,andforsomereason,theywouldalwaysfindawayto

sitbehindusinclassandmakeapointofthefactthatwewerethetopicoftheirconversation.In Yanar we were not used to having our looks and behaviour criticised constantly. Most mean

commentswouldusuallybeaboutouracademicperformancesorfightingskills.Herethejibesfeltverycalculated. The girls would talk among themselves and say things like, ‘although we were quitebeautiful,wemostlikelywouldnotmakemanyfriends,becausewegaveoffavibethatsuggestedthatweweresnobbishanduptight’.Theywouldalsosaythattheycouldn’tunderstandwhyPamandIwouldwanttobearoundfatand

plain-JanegirlslikeDelphineandScarlett.Theywouldaddthattheycouldonlyconcludethatwehadlowself-esteemandthatbeingaroundlessattractivegirlsmadePamandmefeelbetteraboutourselves.Thosestatementswerecruelandunfounded.Scarlettwasverycute,andDelphinewasasbrightand

sparklingasastar.Andtobehonest,DelphineandScarlettweremuchmoreattractivethantheywere,andafterIhadmentionedthecommentstoafewclassmates,theyagreedwithme.Mostofthetime,Iwantedtogetupandconfrontthem,butPamkeptstoppingme.Shedidn’twantto

acknowledge their presence and believed that the biggest insult we could give them was ourindifference.Idisagreed.Delphinemightnothavecaredaboutwhatthegirlsweresayingabouther,butScarlett

did,andIhadtoconsoleherinourroomeveryday.IfwehadbeeninYanar,Iwouldhavegiventhe

threebulliesawell-deservedbeating,andeveryonearounduswouldhaveapplauded.In theMasaniworld,however,violencewasconsideredunacceptable, soPamhadmademeswear

not to hurt the bullies, and itwas taking a lot of self-control onmy part to listen to her and followthroughwithmypromise.IfoundoutprettyquicklythattheringleaderwasWilliam’sex-girlfriendPollard.Thestoryaround

schoolwasthattheyhadendedtheirrelationshiprightbeforeschoolbrokeuplastsummerandthatshehadspenttheentiresummertakingselfiestoremindhimofwhathewasmissing,buthehadnotshownanyinterest.Iwas eventually shown the selfies shehadplastered all over socialmedia.The truthwas that if I

hadn’tbeenshowntheselfies,IwouldhavesearchedtheinternetmyselfafterhearingallthebuzzthatthosephotoshadgeneratedatJ.C..IwasashamedtoadmitthatIwasdyingtoseethephotos.Aslowasitmightsound,Iwassecretly

hopingthat theywouldbeembarrassingandmakeher looklikeafool.WhenIwasfinallypresentedwiththem,theydidnotdisappointmeatall.The photoswere quite raunchy and suggestive but nothing improper, and probably no onewould

havemadeabigdealaboutthemiftheyhadnotbeeninterpretedasbeingtakenandpostedinordertowinbackWilliam.BecauseeveryonehadsurmisedthattheselfieswerepostedasamessagetoWilliam,theymadeherlookdesperate.IhavetoadmitthatifIhadtakenthatmuchtimemakingmyselflookthatsexyandbeautiful,Iwould

havebeenextremelyfrustratedtobeignoredbytheobjectofmyaffection.Inallthepictures,herhairwasflawless.Ididfindthatshewaswearingtoomuchmake-up,andshewaspoutinginalltheselfies.Why?Ihadnoidea,butotherwise,shelookedsuper-hot.Inallherposes,shewaswearinggorgeousbikinis.IrecognisedthemasbeingLuaMorena’sdesigns.

Morena’sdesignswereverypopular inYanarbecauseherauntwasaYanfromWahine,acity in thesouthoftheduchy.Inalltheshots,Pollard’stanwasperfect,andeveryposeshowedhercurves,especiallyherboobsand

herderrière.Clearly,shehadbeenhittingthegymaswell,becauseherbodywasperfectlytoned.JustasPamandIwereabouttoaskmyclassmatewhatalltheselfiescouldpossiblyhavetodowith

thehorriblewayDelphine,Scarlett,PamandIhadbeentreatedbythegirls,weweretoldthatafterPamandIhadarrivedatJ.C.,Williamhadsaid,afterseeingmeandwhilestandingnexttohisex-girlfriend,“Wow!Sheisstunning.”AssoonasIheardthat,Iturnedred,andPamturnedtomeandgavemeasmirk.SheknewthatIwas

veryhappytohearthat,butIhadtopretendthatIdidn’tcare.Ididn’twantmyclassmatetoknowaboutmyfeelingsforWilliam.Ishruggedmyshouldersandsaid,“Well,nowIknowwhyshehatesme.”

So, seeing Hogan walking towards me to talk about the investigation, and realising that he hadWilliamwithhim,Iwascaughtoffguard.ItwouldbethefirsttimeIsawhimsinceIhadlearnedthathefoundmeattractive,andIdidn’tknowhowtoactaroundhim.MyotherworrywasthatasmuchasWilliamhadbeenhangingaroundHogansinceschoolstarted,he

hadbeenattendingJ.C.sincehewastwelveyearsold,likeseventypercentofthestudentsthere.Thatmeantthatbythetimewearrived,moststudentshadalreadybeendividedintocliques,andWilliam’sex-girlfriendEugenieScottPollardwaspartofhisclique,whichmeantthattheyweredestinedtospendalotoftimetogether.Notwantingtoletmyfeelingsgetinthewayofagoodmystery,Imentionedmysuspicionstothe

boys, and all that I hadbeen toldbyAmelia.Theboysdidn’t havemuch time to chit-chat, but theypromisedtogetbacktomebytheweekend.SeeingWilliamjust remindedme that IhadaproblemnamedPollard. IknewIwasobsessing too

muchabouther,butwhenwehadfirstarrivedatJ.C.,wewerewarnedabout theworstbulliesat theschool,andhernamewasmentioned.We had heard fromDelphine and Scarlett that the previous year, a student had attempted suicide

becauseofPollardandherfriends’incessantbullying,whichhadcausedthestudenttoleaveJ.C.andWilliamtobreakupwithher.The threegirlswere also arrested forbullying,which carried a six-month community sentence, as

wellasafifteen-thousand-poundfinetothevictimfromeachgirl.Thevictim’sfamilyalsotookoutarestrainingorderagainstthegirls,andtheyallhadacriminalrecord.ThegodshavebeengenerouswasallIcouldthink.Iwasgladthatbullyingwastakenasseriouslyin

theUKasitwasinYanar.ItdidnottakemelongtorealisethatmychancestoeverbewithWilliamwerefromzerotonone.I

was convinced that with a reputation like hers, there was little chance Pollard wouldn’t spoil anyattemptofminetoapproachtheboysheliked.BecauseHoganhadbecomesoclosetoWilliam,wehadstartedtospendtimewithWilliamaswell.

The resultwas thatWilliam’sother friendsgot into thehabit of joiningus. Itwasobvious that eventhoughtheywerenolongeracouple,theystillbelongedtothesamegroupoffriends,soitseemedliketheywerealwaystogether,andshewasactingasifhestillbelongedtoher.IstartedtodreadhavingtospendtimewithHoganandWilliam.Iknewthatspendingtimewiththem

meantspendingtimewithhisex-girlfriend,andIreallydidn’tlikeher.Inallfairnesswewerealsoaclique,andbyweImeanttheYansofthesameagegroup.Therewere

sixof us:Hogan,Tristan,Pam,Alex,Hassan andme.Hassan’s real namewasDavidMulumba, butanyone who grew up with him called him Hassan because he always compared himself to HassanSchneiderBouba,afamousgladiatorinYanar.

Althoughpeopleknewabout the existenceofYans in theworld, besidesour embassies and a fewpubliclyknowofficialYaninstitutions,theycouldn’ttellthedifferencebetweenaYanandoneofthem.Thestudentscertainlydidn’tknowthattherewereanyYanstudentsinJ.C.,butourattitudeandour

cluelessnesstowardssimpleMasaniwaysoflifehadstartedtomakethemsuspectusofbeingYans.Littlethings,likeasimpleintroductioninasocialgathering,weretotallydifferentinYanar.InYanar

asking a stranger for their name or where they were from was extremely rude. Until a personvolunteeredtheinformation,noonecouldaskthemforit.WhatYans didwas introduce themselves and hope that the other person reciprocated. If it didn’t

happen,thenthemessagewasclear:theyhadnointerestinstrikingupaconversationwithyou.WhenwehadarrivedinJ.C.,thestudentshadkeptaskingforournameandwherewewerefrom.We

took it as an insult, and it resulted in a lot of verbal arguments, to the pointwhere they all stoppedaskingandwaitedtobeapproachedbyus.Theotherthingwasourlackofknowledgewhenitcametomusicormoviesorevenpopularhang-

outs.Itwasprettycleartothemthatwhereverwewerefrom,itwasveryremovedfromwhattheycalled“thecivilisedworld”.Despite our shortcomings, it did not take us long to becomepopular in J.C., but not for the same

reasonsasinaYanschool.BeingpopularinaYanschoolwasnotthesameasbeingpopularinaMasanischool.InYanschools,

popularitywas based on your academic andFISTperformances; students became popular only aftergainingthehighestdistinctionintellectuallyandinFIST,andfornothingelse.People likeWilliamandhis friends,whowerepopularbecause theyweregood-lookingandhada

chancetogototheOlympicsormakeanationalteam,hadnovalueinYanschoolyardhierarchy.Asterrificasweallwere,wewerenotthegreatestatourYanschool,soforAlex,HoganandHassan,

beingpopularatJ.C.wasadreamcometrue.Actually,Hassanwasinheaven;hehadreallystruggledatourpreviousschool.HisFISTskillswerequitepoor,buthewasagreatathletewhenitcametoMasanisports, so being in J.C. had restored his confidence and even flattered his ego in a bigway.He hadstarted believing that he was handsome, despite our repeated attempts to make him realise that helookedmorelikeStephenK.AmosthanChadwickBoseman,andwewerebeingpolite.Hefailedrepeatedlytorealisethatthethingthatraisedhisprofilewasnothelpfromthegodsbutthe

simplefactthathewasfriendswithAlexandHogan,twooftheschool’shottestguys.J.C.hadalargegroupofwhat I called “the seaofmorons”.Theyweregirlswho seemed to think thatbeingaroundHassanwouldgetthemclosertotheprettyboys,butIknewthatwouldn’tbethecase.ThatunexpectedturnofeventsmademeveryreluctanttoadmitMasanisintomygroupoffriends;

wecouldneverfigureoutwhotrulylikedusandwhowasjustusingustogetclosertotheboys.Pamand I eventually started to become so detached and cold towards non-Yans that they ended upnicknamingus“theVulcans”,becauseVulcanswereknowntobecoldanddifficulttoimpress.

NothavingheardfromHoganabout thedeathofWadeAllenTillerson, Iassumed thathewasnotinterested in the investigation,but Iwaswrong.Heeventuallygotback tome, showing interest, anddemandingmoreinformationthanwhatIhademailedhimwith.Unfortunately,Ididn’thaveanymore.I, too,hadbeenwrappedup inmynewlifeatJ.C.andhadspentallmy timegoingdown the listofmoviesIhadbeenadvisedtowatch.Wedecidedtomeetonthelowerground,justunderthebiggesttreeontheschoolgrounds.Alotof

studentslikedtositunderitandhavepicnics.AfterIhadtoldtheboyswhatIhadbeenupto,theywerepretty excited and agreed that we should try and find out more about the previous deaths that hadhappenedintheschool.OnceagainHoganwaswithWilliam, so Idecided that sinceHoganwanted to includeWilliam in

everything,IwoulddothesamewithmyScarlett.IhaddecidedthatIwouldwaituntiltheywerenearmetoannouncetothemthatmyroommatewouldbejoiningus,butthensuddenlyHogantensedup.IwouldhavedismisseditifIhadn’tnoticedasmirkonWilliam’sface.Somethingwasgoingon,and

I thought I knewwhat. I had askedScarlett to join us, so I could only assume that shewas comingtowardsus andhehad seenher. Iwasnot a patient person, so I just said it. “Letmeguess,” I said,facingHogan.“YoufancyScarlett.”Heturnedredandstartedtomumblesomething,onlytostop.Iturnedaround,andtherewasScarlett

standingbehindme,smiling,lookingveryangelic.ShelookedsoincrediblycuteandsweetthatIcouldseewhyHoganwassmitten.AfterafewawkwardmomentswhereHogandidnotsayaword,wefinallygotScarlettuptospeed.

Luckilyforus,theweekendwasapproaching,sowewereallowedtogodownintothevillage.Wegottothelocallibraryandtookapartthenewspaperarchives.Wefoundoutthatalmosteverythreeyears,atleastonestudenthaddiedintheschool,andallthesedeathswerealways“accidental”.Adrowning,afall from a tree or a cliff, an allergic reaction – eitherway, it was like the schoolwas asking for asacrifice,andonewasgiventoit.Ofcourse,Williamsawnoreasontothinkthatthedeathswerenotaccidental.HeandScarlettwere

the resident positive thinkers, and she agreed with him, but I was determined to provemy point. Ipointedouttohimthatweshouldresearchthenamesofthestudentsandtryandfindacommonlinkbetweenthem.Theproblemwaswheretofindsuchanswers.Half-termwasnear,andwewouldbeabletogohome,sowedecidedtoeachkeepalistanddoourresearchinthecomfortofourownhomes.Wealsoneededtogetasmuchinformationaswecouldaboutthestudents,andtheplacetodothat

wastheirfilesintheschoolarchives.Ouronlyproblemwasthatgettingany-whereclosetotherecordofficewouldrequireaseriousmagictrick,unlesswegothelpfromsomeoneelse.IntheYanworld,wehadall the equipment required toget all the informationwewanted.All Ineededwasa tracker,butminewasinLondon.AtrackerisatechnologycapableoftrackinganyoneonearthincludinginYanarbyaccessinganytechnologyavailable.Nothavingaccesstomine,IdecidedtoaskforTristan’shelp.

T ristanMiahDorincourtwasoneofmyfavouritepeople.Hehadbigbrowneyes,cutecurlyhairandgentleways.Hewasalsomyfavouritepartner inFIST,andtheonewith themostdistinctioninthesubject.

WehadaFISTwushu,whichwasaFISTschool,inGuildford,whichwehadbeenattendingsincewearrived.Williamhadbeenattendingwithus,Hoganhavingsecuredapassforhimfromthecouncil,andhadbeendoingwell.Ihad tried toobtainone forScarlett,butHoganvetoed it.Hewas scared that shewouldgethurt.

NowthatIknewwhy,IwasdefinitelygoingtoaskScarlettifshewasinterestedinFIST.UnlikeHogan,Ididnotbelievethatshewasafrailcreaturethatneededtobesheltered.Although Tristan was a great fighter, I did not need his fighting skills, I needed his knowledge.

TristanwastheonlyYanIknewthatcouldhackaMasanicomputer.TherestofuswerenotthatgoodwhenitcametoMasanitechnology.WefinallycametothedecisionthatTristanandIwouldsneakintotheofficewhilePamguardedthe

door, and Scarlett was to be the lookout from the corridor. Hogan andWilliam had to be benched

becausetheymadesuchabigdealaboutScarlett’sandmysafetythatIliedtothemandtoldthemthattheoperationhadbeencancelled.Thereasonwehadtohaveaccesstothestudentfilesfromtheacademics’officeswasbecausewehad

triedhackinginto it fromourrooms,butwehadrealised that forsomereasontheserverusedbytheheadmasterandthedeputyheadmasterwasseparatefromtherest,whichmeantthatwewouldhavetobreakintotheofficeandcopythefiles.I ordered some lock-picking tools on Amazon, which amazingly came without the school staff

confiscatingthem,andthankstoYouTube,wehadtrainedforaweekandwerefinallyreadytobreakintotheoffice.Whenwearrived,werealisedthatwehadbroughtalightsabretoaknifefight.WethoughtMasani

computerswereancient,butthisonehadbeenbuiltwhenJesuswasstillalive.Itwasevenequippedforfloppydisksandnotmemorysticks.Wewouldhavecrackedthepasswordandtakenpicturesofthefileswewanted,but theofficewas

alsolocked,andwedidnothavetimetopicktwodoorssuccessivelybeforebeingcalledawaybyPambecausethecaretakerwasapproaching.Thatfirst failurewasawake-upcall forus; lifewasa lotharder thanonTV,andweneededtobe

betterpreparedfortheunexpected.Werealisedthatifwewerecaught,itcouldmeansuspensionforallofus,andweriskedbeinggroundedforeverbyourparents.Cautionhadtobeourmiddlename;thisoperationwouldbetriedonemoretimeandnomore,forourownsakes.Allboardersprettymuchknew thatArnold thecaretakerwasalwaysdrunkandpassedoutby ten

p.m..Allweneededtodothefollowingnightwastomeetnearhisroom,waittillwecouldhearhimsnoreandmakeourway to theheadmaster’soffice. Icouldseeon their faces that theothersweren’tveryhappywiththeplan,butafterIchallengedallofthemtocomeupwithabetterone,theyagreedtotrymine.This timeeverythingalmostworkedlikeacharm.Wemetat ten in thecorridor. Itwasfunnyhow

being up and running during a time of day when we were very likely to bump into draugr, a Yanzombie, could feel sonormal in averyold construction likeour school. In thosedays, thebuildingswereconstructedwithveryhighceilingsandlargecorridors,soeventhoughtherewereafewofus,itstillgaveusthechills.CrossingthemaincourtwithScarlettandPamwasinvigorating.Itwassocheekytohavebeenable

todo it twicebehindWilliamandHogan’sbacks that Iwas likeachild inasweetshop. Itwasabitchillyoutside–butfilledwithexcitement,wecouldbarelyfeelanything.Whenweopenedthedoor,ourheartsstartedbeatingagain.Somehowthemoodwasdifferentfrom

thepreviousnight.Wewereholdingeachother,lookingaroundasifweexpectedsomeonetocomeoutofthedarkcorners.Anddarkcornerstheywerethatnight.Scarlettkeptlookingbehindusasifshewasexpectingsomethingtocomeoutofoneofthem.

Despite thedismalaspectof thecorridors,Icouldn’thelpadmiringtheirbeautyaswell.Thebeigecorridorslookedmorecarroty,andtheportraitsinsidethepaintingsseemedtofollowuswiththeireyes.Iwasstartingtohavethrills.Weheardaveryloudnoise.Itwaslikethehissingofasnakefollowedbyaloudsound,almostlikea

lion’sroarifthelionhadasorethroat.Ourheartsstopped.Thatwasitforus,Ithought.Afterwatchingalargenumberofhorrormovies,I

hadbecomeanexperton thewalkingdead,andhereIwas,about tofacemyworstnightmare,whensuddenlyPamjuststartedgigglingandsaid,“ByFreya,forasecondIthoughtwewouldhavetofaceZhongKui.”“Whatdoyoumean,forasecond?Lookstomeasifheisstillcoming!”Isaidinanangryvoice.Shelaughedandsaid,“No,yousilly.It’sArnoldsnoring.”IwasabouttoanswerherinascepticaltoneofvoicewhenIrealisedthatshewasright;itwasArnold

snoring.IdroppedScarlett’shand,andsheburstoutlaughing,thenhadtostopwhenwerealisedthatwecouldhavewokenhimup.We finallymetwithTristan,who rolled his eyeswhenwe told himof our almost encounterwith

ZhongKui,butunfortunately,unlikemostYans,hedidnotcaremuchaboutfolktales.TristanandIgotintotheoffice,retrievedallthefilesweneededandweallwentbacktoourrooms.

Thenextday,wedecidedthatsincewewereallgoinghomeattheendoftheweek,itwouldbebettertoworkonthefilesintheprivacyofourownhomes.ScarlettbeingfromHereford,wetoldherthatwewouldupdateherassoonasschoolresumed.For

the restofus, itwaseasy;weall lived induchyquarters inwestLondon,sobeingable tomeetandshareourfindingswouldn’tbeaproblem.IknewWilliamwasfromCardiff,butasmuchasIwantedtoinvitehimtojoinusinLondon,Ididn’t

havethecouragetodoso.MyonlyhopewasforhimtobeinvitedbyHogantospendtheautumnhalf-termwithus,butthatdidnothappen.ItturnedoutitwaspurerevengeonHogan’spart.HehadbeenhopingthatIwouldinviteScarlett,

butIhadn’t,thereforedenyinghimthepleasureofknowingherbetter,sohehaddonethesametome.

S otherewewere,backinsunnyLondon,as theScotscalledit,but this timeweweren’t justchildren happy to be home, we were investigators with the freedom to investigate themysteriousdeathshappeninginthesouthofthecountry.

Amelia and I started working, taking a look at what we had, which without Mahlam – the Yanequivalent of the internet –would have taken us a long time, becausewe had gathered informationdatingbacktwentyyears.Allweneededwastofindoutwhichofthesestudentshadpassedawayonschool grounds. I could have done itmyself, but Iwantedmy gangwithme, so I called the twins,TristanandHoganoverfortheresults.WhenwewereinLondon,weallresidedinDraycottPlace.Itwaspurchasedbythemembersofthe

TenthefirsttimetheycametoLondon,afterWorldWarTwo.DraycottPlacewasmadeupofagroupof red-brick, five-storeyblocks of flatswithmassedparallel chimneyson the roof, extending to twostoreysonthesideofthebuildingandanotheroneaboveit.Thebuildingsformedanenclave,withabeautifulgardeninthemiddle,toourdelight.Theformation

oftheblocksofflatsmadeitfeellikewewerelivinginacommune,whichwasthereasonthatsomepeoplestartedreferringtoitashomeratherthanDraycottPlace,liketherestofus.

ThebestpartaboutlivinginDraycottPlacewasthatwewereallpartofthecommune.Theworstpartwasthat, justlikeacommune,therewasnowaytokeepsecretsfromanyone,especiallyfriendswhodidnotattendyourschoolbutdidgrowupwithyou,butwemanagedtokeepthematbay.AmeliaandIlovedourlibrary.Ourparentshaddecidedalongtimeagotoconvertourplayroomand

our living room into a giant room that we called the library because of all the books. Unlikemostpeople,AmeliaandIabsolutelyadoredthefeelingoftouchingoldbooks.Wehadabsolutelylovedtheideaandinsistedonhelpingwiththedecorations,buttheyhadobviouslyrefused.ThelibraryhadaveryhighceilingwithpaintingsofThorandtheValkyriebattlescenesfromRagnarök.The reason the ceilingwas so highwas because the playroomwas the roomon top of our living

room,notthenextroom,whichwasourstudyroom.Inordertocreatethelibrary,they’dhadtobreakthe ceiling and install abeautifulvintage cherry-wood spiral staircasewithvintagewoodenbalustersandasolidblackwoodenhandrail.TheDraycottPlacebuildingswereold,sothearchitecturewaspreservedoutsideandintogiveita

vintagelook.Alltheroomswerevintage,andourlibrarywasnoexception.ThefurniturewasantiquevelvetsofasfromAustraliathatmymotheradored,butIwantedleatherones.Shehadthemplacedallovertheroomtogiveitaneclecticlookandmaintainthevintagefeeloftheroom.The walls were beige but decorated with pictures of our Viking and Fulani ancestors, as well as

encasedVikingandFulaniweaponsandart.ItwasarepresentationofwhatYanarandourfamilywasallabout.Nowthatwewerehome,weneededtotalkabouttheanomalies.Wehadfoundnosignofanomalies

intheschooloreveninGatewayHill,andPamandIdecidedtoinformmymotherofourfindingsandourdesiretoclosethatinvestigation.Mymotheragreed.Iwasgladthatwehadfoundnothing,becausethemurderswerealotmoreinteresting,andIwantedtodevoteallmytimetothem.Butbeforeanything,IneededtocomecleantoHogan–Ihadtakenhisbelovedwithmetoretrieve

thedatabehindhisandWilliam’sbacks.Hewaswalkingtowardsme,andthatwasthemomentthatIdecidedtotellhimhowwehadobtained

theinformationinourpossession.HewasfuriousthatIhadliedtohim,buthewasespeciallyoutragedaboutthefactthatScarlettwasputindanger.Ihadtoadmitthatmyfeelingswerealittlehurt.WasInothisbelovedfriendand,assuch,deserving

ofhisworryaswell?Thatdidnotseemtobethecase.Iwaswatchinghimwalkingbackandforthinhisroom,pantingandmumbling.“Ican’tbelieveyou.

TypicalViking–stubborn,short-sightedandreckless.Ishouldhaveseenthatcoming,”hesaid.Atthatpoint,I’dhadenough,andreplied,“Excuseme,typicalOlympian–authoritarian,entitledand

fullofhimself.”He turned to me with his eyes and mouth wide open as if he was shocked at my very accurate

descriptionofhistribe.

“Are you serious?” he said. “You are the one who took my girlfriend on a night-time adventurewithoutmyconsentandputherlifeindanger.Anythingcouldhavehappenedtoher.”“Youarerestingmycaseforme,Olympian,”Isaidwithatauntingtone.“BecausesheisaMasani

girl,youimmediatelyassumethatshecannotdefendherselfagainstanyunforeseenobstacle,butunlikeyouOlympians,weVikingstendtotrustourfellowwarriors,andIknewthatshewouldbefine.”IknewIshouldhavestoppedtalking,butIcouldn’thelpmyself,soIcontinuedbysaying,“Besides,

sheinsistedoncomingwithus,andunliketheOlympianthatyouare,weVikingsneversaynowhensomeoneasksforanopportunitytohelpprotecttheweakandearntheirplaceinValhalla.”Hesighedindespairandcametositnexttome,butIwasn’tevensorry,andIgavehimtheoptionof

refusing to continuewith the investigation, and stay in hiswing, or get overmy lie and join us.Hejoinedus.

Gettingthenamesofstudentswhohaddiedintheschoolwasn’thardwithmytracker.Wefoundoutthatonceevery threeyears,astudentdied inanaccidentatJ.C.,butfor the last fiveyears,strangelyenough,ithadbeeneverysingleyear.Aspuzzlingasthatwas,whatwasevenmoredisturbingwasthefactthattheywereallscholarship

students,withtheexceptionofWadeAllenTillerson.Westaredateachother.Wewantedtosaysomething,butnooneknewwhattosay.Thensuddenly

PampushedTristanawayfromthecomputerandsatinhisplace.Shestartedrecheckingthenamesofthedeadstudents,butunlikewhatwehaddoneearlier,shetookdownthenamesoftheirparentsandthencheckedthesenamesagainsttheiroccupationhistory.Itpaidoff.Fromwhatwegathered,alltheseparents,whousedtobefrommodestbackgrounds,were

nowamongtheUK’smostsuccessfulandinfluentialpeople.Theyhadthrivingbusinesses–businessesthathadonlystartedtoflourishafterthedeathoftheirchild.It made no sense.What did the school have to do with these people, and what could the school

possiblygainbygettingstudentskilled?Theothertroublingthingwenoticedwasthatallthesestudentswereunderthirteenyearsold,exceptWadeAllenTillerson.Iwas starting to have a funny feeling thatwewere dealingwith a cultwehadheard aboutmany

timeswhenwewereyoung.Noonehadreallyevertoldusmuchaboutthem;itwasmoreschoolyardgossip.Theyweremorepartofurbanlegend,Ihadthought.TheYan communities all over theworld had told stories of another community living outside the

norms of Masani communities. They had attracted enough attention from local governments to beclassifiedasacult.When I informed the group ofwhat Iwas suspecting, I expectedAlex andHogan tomake funny

remarks,withTristanandPambackingmeup–buttomysurprise,itwasTristan,alongwithPam,who

looked puzzled.The others, however, seemed to know exactlywhat Iwas talking about, and agreedwithme.Theyhadsuspecteditaswell.ThatwaswhenHogansaidthathehadproofofthecult’sexistenceandpractices.Weallknewthat

GiovanniBarthCroise,Hogan’suncle,wasaphotojournalistandthathehadbeentravellingtheMasaniworldsincethefirstdaywemethim.Whatwedidn’tknowwasthatononeofhistrips,hehadbeenwarnedagainstacultoperatinginBenin,morepreciselyCotonou,wherehewasbasedatthetime,andrecruitingnewmembers.Hefoundoutthatoneoftheirpracticeswastosellthesouloftheirmostbrilliantandfavouritechild

toanentityinexchangeformoneyorsuccess,orboth.Aftersellingthechild’ssoul,thatchildwoulddiewithinaweek.Notbelievingthestory,hehadaskedforproof,andhewastoldthataweekearlieroneofthecity’s

mostrespectablecommunityleadershadbeenarrestedonsuspicionofherhusband’smurderandthatalthoughtheyhadnotfoundherhusband’sbody,theydidfindaskeletoninhercloset.Shehadnochildren,butshehadadoptedhersister’sonlydaughterafterhersister’sdeathandhad

raisedthechild,butthechildhadbeenkidnappedattheageofeleven.To their surprise,when they entered her bedroom, they found the eleven-year-old niece,who had

beenmissingforadecade,inthecloset,nothavingagedaday.Whentheycalledhername,hermouthopened,andgoldcoinsstartedcomingoutofit.Herauntwasimmediatelyarrestedanddiedthesamedayinhercellfromwhatseemedtobeaheartattack.WhenCroisetoldthemthathedidnotbelievethestory,theybribedoneofthearrestingofficers,who

agreedtoshowhimthevideo–theyhadrecordedtheinteractionwiththechildatthesuspect’shome.Hepaidofftheofficerforacopyoftherecordingandtookittothegeneralcouncil.Undernormalcircumstances,wewouldhaverolledoureyes,butthefacttherewasavideochanged

everything.Whenwe pressed him to find outwhat had happened to the little girl andwhy shewasspittinggoldinsteadofanythingelse,Hoganadmittedthathehadneveractuallyreceivedthestoryfromhis uncle. He had overheard his uncle tell hismother about it, andwatched him give his sister therecordingtopresenttothegeneralcouncil.WhenHoganhadtriedtoapproachthesubjectwithanyofthem,theyhadshuthimdownandforbiddenhimfrommentioningittoanyone.Wetriedtousethetrackertofindmoreinformationaboutthesubject,butwithout thenameofthe

cultorthenameofthefamilyinvolvedinthestory,itwasn’tpossible.HoganandIdecidedtorelatethestorytoWilliamandScarlettwhenwewentbacktoschool,despitethestrictobjectionsfromtheothers.Toexplainourdecision,Itoldthemthatinmyopinion,sincetheheroesofthestorywereMasanis,

William and Scarlett beingMasanis as well gave them the right to knowwhat was lurking in theirsociety.Therealitywasmuchsimpler:HoganandIjustwantedtoincludeWilliamandScarlettbecausetheyhadbecomepartofourlives,that’sall.

Pampointedoutthattellingthemtheresultofourresearchwouldmeanthatwewouldhavetomakeourtechnologyaccessibletothem,whichwasforbiddenbythecouncilitself.IdefendedourdecisionbyexplainingthatallowingMasanistouseourtechnologymighthavebeen

illegalbutthatWilliamandScarlettwereunlikelytoblababoutit,sothecouncilwouldneverknow.Reluctantly theyagreed tousdisclosing it toour friends,andPamdecided thatsheshouldalso let

Delphineknow.Asshewasherroommateandafriend,itwasonlyright.

T hereturntoJ.C.wasfilledwithanxiety,notonlybecauseweweregoingbacktothelion’sdenbutalsobecausethefirstdaybackwasalsothedayofAethelflaed,LadyoftheMercians.Onthatnight,theschoolhadacostumeball–900ADattirerequired.

ThenextSaturdayandSundaywasthefestivaloftheLadyoftheMercians,wheretheentireschool,aswellastheentirecountry,wasdecoratedinAethelflaed’scolours:aredflagwithayellowdragon.Ishouldhavebeenexcited–Ilovedfestivalsandballs–butIwasn’t.Ifithadbeenuptome,Iwould

havecelebratedAethelflaed’sfestivalinLondon,inthecomfortofmyquarters.Theentirewaybacktotheschool,allIcouldthinkaboutwasthatWilliamhadnotaskedmetotheball,andIhadbeenforcedtosayyestosomeoneIdidn’tevencareabout.I had managed to keep my composure while in London, especially while ordering our outfits.

Althoughthefashionstyleduringthetenthcenturywasveryunderstated,Pamhadbeenadamantthatweallhadtohavetheoutfitscutalittlemorefittedtoourbodies,whichannoyedme.Pamwasasoutherner,butIwasanorthernerandinthenorthwedressedforwarmthandcomfort–

soasmuchas I loved lookingatbody-huggingdressesandsexydresses,when Iwas forced towearthem,Ialwaysfeltawkward,uglyandgauche.

My insidedresswaswhite,with an ivoryoverlaydress and a splashof gold all overwithgoldenborders.Pam’sdresswaslightgreenontheinside,withadarkgreenoverlaydressandgoldborder.Pamalsomademeordera light-pink insidedresswithadarkpinkoverlayandvelourborder,and

Pamhadorderedalight-yellowinsidedresswithadarkyellowoverlayandawhitevelourborderasabackupfortheball.Forthefestival,Iputmyfootdownandboughtouroutfitsofftherackfromacostumeshop,butin

exchangeweagreedtoallowtheseamstresstomakethemfitperfectly.Andtherewewere,threetenth-centuryoutfitsfortheentirefestival,andalistofwooersIforonedidnotwant.InYanar,cryingwasseenasweakandpitiful,andweaknessinagirlwasdeemedunacceptable.Girls

weresimplynotallowedtocryforanythingexceptatafuneral,oratleastnotinpublic.Mycasewasdifferent.Iwasacry-baby,andtherewasnothingIcoulddoaboutit.EverytimeIthoughtofWilliamnotaskingmetothedance,Ifeltanuncontrollableurgetocry.Then anger took over. How could I be so weak? I was nothing but a pathetic fool with feelings

unbecoming of a member of the Ten. I walked towards the bathroom mirror, stared at myself andrealisedthatIwasastrong,beautifulandpowerfulmemberoftheTen.MostguysintheschoolhadaskedPamandmetotheball.IhadhadmypickofJ.C.’scrèmedela

crème.SinceWilliamdidn’twanttoaccompanymetotheball,hewasnolongerworthasecondofmytime, I thought. I promised myself to never think of him or even speak his name ever again untilRagnarök.Scarlett arrived just in time to get ready. Shewas so late that Pamwas already inmy roomwith

Delphine,helpingmewithmake-up.ShetoldusthathertrainfromHerefordhadbeenlateandthatsheandWilliamhadbarelymadeittotheschoolintime.WhenIheardthatshehadbeenonthesametrainashim,myheartjumpedandIhatedmyselfforit.Scarlettbroughtouthercostumefromhersuitcaseandaftershewasdressed,werealisedthatwehad

aproblem.PamandIhadnotonlyhadouroutfitscustom-madebuthadevenchangedthestyleslightly,and they lookeddivine.Delphine andScarlett, however, hadbought theirsonline, and they lookedalittlebit liketheywerewearingpotatosacks.Delphine,beingthechampionthatshealwayswas, justshrugged her shoulders and pinned the sides from the inside tomake it slightlymore attractive, butScarlettburstoutcrying.Despiteourencouragement,sherefusedpoint-blanktoleavetheroom.Iknewthatwewerewastingourtime,soIlefttheotherstryingtohelpherandwenttoHogan’sroom.IknewthathewastheonlyoneabletogetScarletttocometotheballwithus.WhenIarrived,Williamwasthere.Inmyhaste,IhadforgottenthatWilliamwasbackaswelland

endedupface-to-facewithhim.Icouldn’thelpbutsmile;hehadclearlyorderedhisoutfitonline,andlookedcomicalinit,buthewasstillsocutethatmyheartjumped.IrememberedthatIhatedhim,somysmileturnedintoanevillook,andwithoutawordtohim,IturnedtoHoganandinformedhimthathisdatewasrefusingtoleaveherroom.

Hassancameinatthatverymomentandsaid,“Seriously,Di,couldn’tyouwaitforWilldownstairs?What’swrongwithyou?”Iwantedtopunchhim,butinsteadIanswered,“IamnotWill’sdate.IwasinvitedbyAchilles.I’m

heretogetHoggy,ifyoumustknow.”“Achilles?Areyouserious?Ihatethatguy.Whyaregoingwithhim?”hesaid.“Maybe,justmaybe,becauseheisoneofthehottestguysinschool.Headoresme,andheaskedme

withabouquetofmyfavouriteflowers.”“Whydidn’tyoujustcometome?IwouldhavepreferredtogowithyouratherthanwithLizzy,”he

said.“Well,whydidn’tyouaskme?”Ireplied.“Er,becauseIthoughtWillwasgoingtoaskyou,”hesaid.Atthatmoment,weallturnedtoWilliam,whosaidtoHassanwithoutasingleglancetowardsme,“I

didaskher.Sheneveranswered.”HespokeinaverycoldtoneofvoiceandgavemethecoldeststareIhadeverseen.Icouldfeelangercomingfromhim.IturnedtoHogan,andIcouldseedisappointmentinhiseyesaswell.I was flabbergasted – the nerve of those boys, especiallyWilliam. I ignored them and turned to

Hassanandsaid,“Donotlistentohim.Heneveraskedmetogototheball.Youcanaskthegirls.”“What?”saidWilliam.“NotonlydidIaskyou,butIevendiditwithabouquetofflowers–white

roses,whiteliliesandwhiteliliesofthevalley,becauseIknowthattheyareyourfavourites–andIleftanoteaskingyoutogototheballwithme.ButIgotnoanswer.”“Wait.Achilles’sbouquetwasmadeofthesameflowers.Wheredidyouleavethebouquet?”Iasked.“Igave it toyourhousemistress toplace inyour room,”he saidwithacalmervoicewhile slowly

walkingtowardsme.Iplacedmyrighthandonmyeyes.ItwasobviousthatAchillessomehowhadreplacedthecardwith

anoteofhisown,andIhadfallenforit.IhadbeensurprisedwhenIrealisedthatAchillesknewmyfavouriteflowers,butIhadassumedthathehaddonehishomework.ItwasnowverycleartomethathehadstolenWilliam’sflowersandcard.Itwasn’tsurprising;Achilleswasanarrogant jerk,andifIhadnotbeensomadatWilliam,Iwouldneverhadagreedtogototheballwithhim–butnowIhadandIneededtorethinkeverything.Williamtookmeinhisarmsandremovedmyhandsfrommyface.Hetookhishandandpulledmy

face up, stared straight intomy eyes and said, “Did you really think that Iwouldn’t ask you to thedance?”IturnedredbecausethatwasexactlywhatIhadthought,plusforsomereason,Ifeltreallyshybeing

inhis armsandhidmy face inhis shoulder. I couldhave stayed there forever,butHassanbroke thecharmasusualbysaying,“Well,ifshewasn’tgoingwithyou,whodidyouask?”

IfeltWilliamtensingup,soIlookedup,andhisfacewasallred.IfeltamovementbehindhimandpulledawayfromhimjustintimetoseeHoganpullinganembarrassedfaceandtryingtomakeaquickexit.Istartedtohaveafunnyfeelinginside,butIdidnothavethecouragetoaskthequestionthatneeded

to be asked. Luckily forme, Hassanwas devoid of such aweakness andwalked towards the door,leanedonitasiftostopanyonefromleavingandsaid,“So,whoisit?”Williamtriedtotakemebackintohisarms,butIrefused.Ireallywantedhimtoanswer,andthenhe

said,“IaskedGenieandshesaidyes.”IheardHassangaspbehindme,whileIfroze.Ididn’tknowwhattosay.Hehadaskedhisso-called

ex-girlfriendtothedance,andshehadaccepted.Clearly,theywerenotovereachother.Ifeltlikesuchafool.Whatwas Idoing there?Whyhad I evencome to their room?Whyhadn’t I just stayed inmyroom?Ididn’tknowwhat todo, andmyheadwas starting to spinall aroundmewhen suddenlyHassan

grabbedmyhandandgotmeoutofthere.Williammadeamovetowardsme,tryingtostopmefromleaving,butHoganstoppedhimandsaid,“Letthemgo.Youcandealwiththatlater.Fornow,wehaveajerktohuntdownandsomeseriousscorestosettle.”NoticinghowdownWilliamlooked,Hoganputhishandonhisshoulderandsaid,“Chinup,mate.

It’sgoingtobeokay.Letmetalktomygirl,andthenI’llgetbacktoyouandyourproblems,”hesaid,leavingtheroom.Hassan walked me all the way to my room and had the courtesy to stay silent the whole time.

However, when we got to my door, he stopped me, tuned me towards him and said, “Look, it isabsolutely my place to point out that having feelings for a guy that is already taken is absolutelyunforgivable and lame. I love you, and because I love you, I am begging you to stop humiliatingyourselfaroundhimandforgetaboutWilliamforgood.”Hethengrabbedmyhead,puthisforeheadonmyforeheadandsaid,“Anyguy in theschoolwould love todateyou, ifyoucould justgive themachance.ItisnotbecausehelookslikeThorthatheisthegodofthunderorworththeattentionoftheprettiestgirlinschool.Ifwewereathome,youwouldneverhavesunksolow.”Hethengrabbedmyarmandsaid,“Getabloodygrip,andkickhimtothekerb.”Hethenforcefullyreleasedmeandleft.Hewasright;Ineededtogetagrip.Ihadhumiliatedmyselflongenough,anditwasmylackofself-

worththathadallowedloserslikeAchillestoplayapranklikethat.Idecidedtogetrevengeonhimthebest way I knew how: I would challenge him to a fight and give him the beating he so rightfullydeserved.WhileIwasstandinginfrontofmydoor,lostinmyownthoughts,Ifeltapresencebehindmeand

turnedaround.ItwasHogan.IhadforgottenthathewasmeanttocomeandspeaktoScarlett.Igotoutofhisway,pulledoutmyarmandwavedit,signifyingthathewaswelcometogoin,buthedidn’t.

Onthecontrary,hehuggedmeandsaid,“Hassanisagreatguy,buthecanbeajerksometimes.”Hethentookmyfaceinbothhishandsandsaid,“Doyoutrustme?”Iraisedoneeyebrow,signifyingthatIwashesitanttoanswer,sohesaid,“DoyoutrustthatIwould

neverletanyonemakeafoolofyouorhurtyou?”Inoddedmyhead,meaningyes,andthenhesaid,“Helikesyou,alot,sopleasedon’twritehimoff.

AndIknowyou;youwillwanttostrangletheAthenian,butIambeggingyounottotouchhim.GiveWillenoughrespecttolethimdealwiththeproblem.Please,Di,promiseme.”Normally,Iwouldhaverefused.Idon’tusuallyletanyonemakeafoolofme,butIwassohappyto

hearthatWilliamlikedmethatIagreedtostayawayfromAchillesandfollowedHoganinside.Pam,DelphineandIlefthimwithScarlett,andweheadedtothehallofthemainbuilding.Stations

hadbeenplaced,anddrinkswerebeingpassedaround.Theboyswereallgoingtowardsthegirlstheyhadaskedtobetheirdate.Iwasabituncomfortable.Ididn’treallyknowhowtoactaroundAchilleswhenhecametome,soI

washopingthathewasn’taroundyet.Pamhadnosuchissue.John,herdate,hadappearedassoonaswehadarrived,andtakenheraway.Enrique, Delphine’s date, came and took her as well, so before I knew it, I was all alone. For a

second,Ifeltlikestandingalonewasquiteuncomfortable,untilIrealisedthatontheothersideoftheroom, Eugenie Pollard was standing alone as well. She was looking all around her, searching forsomeone,searchingforWilliam,whostrangelyenoughwasnowheretobeseen.SuddenlyScarlettappearednexttome,alone.Iturnedtoherandasked,“WhereisHoggy?”Sheshruggedhershouldersandsaid,“Idon’tknow.Hetoldmetostaywithyou.Apparently,hehad

somethingstodealwith,buthepromisedtobebackassoonaspossible.”That sounded very suspicious tome. I started looking around, and I noticed that the Greek pack

wasn’t around either. The Greek pack was what we called Achilles and his friends. They were allGreeks,allfromAthensandalwaystogether,likeapackofwolves.Tonighttherewasnosignofanyofthem,andthatwasverystrange.IsawHassanbeingthesocialbutterflythathealwayswas,andhewasflirtingwiththeschool’sleast

recommendablegirls.Unlike the rest of us, Hassan had always found the school bad apples fascinating and was very

attractedthem,anditwasamongthemthatIfoundhim.TheirchoiceofoutfitsclearlyshowedthattheyknewnothingaboutAethelflaed,oneofEngland’sgreatestheroines,becausetheywereoffbyatleastacenturywhenitcametotheirclothes.IignoredthefrownsIsawwhenIapproachedthem,andturnedHassan.Iexpectedtoreceivethecold

shoulderfromthegirls,butIgotitfromtheboysaswell.Iwasn’tsurprised;IhadmadenosecretofwhatIthoughtofthem,andIwasn’tplanningonapologisinganytimesoon.

Idraggedhimawaywithawaveofprotestationfollowingus,butIwasunaffected.Itookhimoutsideandsaid,“Wherearethey?”Hesmiled;heknewexactlywhoIwastalkingabout.Hecamereallyclosetome,leanedovermeand

said,“HeismakingsuretheAtheniansknownottomesswithhim,andtookHoggyasabackup.”AsIwasstandingwithmymouthopen,heturnedaroundandleft.Iwasverytemptedtoleaveandgo

backtomyroom,butIlookedatmyoutfitandselfishlydecidedthatIwouldgototheball,andmaybeWilliamwouldbefineandwouldjoinmeeventually.Iarrivedjustwheneverybodywasbeingescortedtotheballroom,wherethedancewasstarting,butI

couldn’thelpbutfeelguilty.InYanar,friendsjoinfriendsduringbattles,andhereIwas,notbeingabletohelpWilliamgiveAchillesthecorrectionhedeserved,becauseIhadpromisedHoganIwouldstayaway.Ihadalotoffun.PamandIwerethequeensoftheballwithoursensationaloutfits,andeverybody,

girlsaswellasboys,wantedtodancewithus.TheLGBTclubhadencouragedpeopletodressthewaytheywantedratherthanastheirgenderstipulated,soweendedupwithsomegirlsdressedlikegents,andsomeboysdressedlikeladies.Itwasfantastic.Theonlydarkcloudwas that after a fewhours, InoticedPollard leaving in tearswithher friends

tryingtoconsoleher.Shedidnotdeservethat.ItwasAethelflaed’sfestival.Asgirls,itwasoneofthemostimportantholidaysforusbecauseitshowedthateveninaworldwherewomenwerenothingmorethanslavesandproperty,awomanhadrisenupandsavedherentirecountry.AsmuchasIwantedtohelpher,IknewthatIcouldn’t.Icouldonlyhopethatthenextdayswouldgetbetterforher.

T henextday,afterafantasticnight,wetextedtheboystofindoutwhathadhappened,buttheyrefused to tell us. Achilles, however, wasn’t so coy with the details. According to him,William andHogan hadmet him and his friends, andWilliam had demanded that he stay

away fromme.Whenhe refused,Williampushedhim, and thatwaswhenamemberof school staffintervened and separated them. They all got banned from the ball, and they considered themselveslucky.IthankedhimforhisinformationandwashappilystartingtogetreadytogototownwhenPamburst

inandsaidthatweneededtokeepDelphine,ScarlettandtheothersupdatedaboutwhatwehadfoundwhileinLondon.Shewasright;festivalornofestival,westillhadaproblemonourhands.WeallmetattheMagicWrap,andIwasveryhappytorealisethatPam’schoiceofcostumesforus

wasfabulous.WewereonceagainthebestdressedinGatewayHill.Welookedsocutethattheownergaveusourfavouritesandwiches,TheBalboaandTheToby,forfree.Afterthedebrief,weallagreedthatafewquestionsaboutourinvestigationneededtobeaddressed.

Whyourschool?Whatwastheconnection?Andwasthisgoingoninotherschoolsaswell?Butthesewerequestionsthatwemightnevergetanswersto.

Right whenwewere in themiddle of our discussion, I saw someone coming towards us. It wasHassan,withahugesmileonhisface.Hestoodrightinfrontofme,staringdownatmewithagrin.Hebent down, put his hands onmy shoulders and said, “So,Columbo, rumour in town is that you areinvestigatingWadeAllenTillerson’sdeath.”Icouldhavescreamed.Hassanwas the last thingweneededat themoment.Hewas the Inspector

Gadget to my Penny. The list of his espiègleries was as long as the Great Wall of China, and itsconsequenceswouldhavebeenbiblicalifitwasn’tforAmelia,Pamandmefixingiteverytime,soIwasinnomoodtoincludeourresidentGomerGoofinanything.TheproblemwasthatHassanwasAlex’spartnerincrimeandhadprobablybeeninvitedbyhimto

joinus,whichdidnothelp.Hewasalsoagoodandtrustedfriendofusall.Icouldn’tjustdismisshim.AllIcouldhopewasthathewouldn’tputusinamesstoodeeptogetoutof.Hassanwasayearolderthanme,andwehadgrownuptogether.Theyearbefore, tocelebratemy

birthday,weallspenttheweekendinBirminghamatHassan’suncle’shouse.IthadbeenexcitingtogetoutofYanarandspendtimeintheMasaniworld.Thenextday,whiletheotherswereattheBullring,IdidsomeshoppingattheOasisshoponCorporationStreet.Hassanagreedtoaccompanyme,andafterIwas done, wewere due tomeet with the others at theNew Street Cineworld.We decided to forgojumpingonabusandwalkedinstead.OnourwaytoNewStreet,wesawagroupofgirlscomingourway,andhepushedmeasidesothegirlsdidn’tseemeandassumethatIwashisgirlfriend,andIwentflying.NotonlydidhenoteventurntowardsmetocheckifIwasokay,butbythetimeIgotup,Isawhimflirtingwiththegirlsasifnothinghadhappened.Ihadscratchesallovermyarms,myclotheswereallmuddybecauseIhadfalleninapuddleofdirty

water,andmystockingsweretorn.Iwasfurious.IwassoangrythatIleftanddidnotanswermyphonewhenherealisedlateronthatIhaddisappeared.Wedidnotspeakforaweekafterthat.WehadbeenduetospendafewdaysinLondonbeforegoinghome.AfterIwentbacktoLondon,

Hassankepttryingtomakeamends,soIdecidedthatratherthanlethimsuffer,Ishouldforgivehim.Hetookme tomy favouriteLondon sea-food restaurant.He said that itwas hisway of apologising forpushingme.TheothershadtoldhimthatIhadscratchesonmyarmsandkneesbecauseofhim,soIwasgladthathewantedtomakeamends.Whenwearrivedat therestaurant, thefirst thinghedidwasaskaboutaspecificwaitress.Hewas

veryeagertoknowifshewasworkingtherethatday.Irealisedthathehadonlybroughtmetheretoflirtwith thatgirl,andgotveryannoyed.Mymotheroftensaid thatmencannotmultitask.Well, thatwasnotthecaseforteenageboys.Heclearlyhadplannedtokilltwobirdswithonestone.Afterwehadourmealsandhehadspent theentire time flirtingwith thePolishwaitress, the time

cametopaythebill.Sheplaceditinfrontofhim,andassoonasshewasgone,helookedatme,madeasorryfaceandsaidthathedidn’thaveanymoneyandthatIwouldhavetopayforthemeal.

Irolledmyeyes,butIhadnochoice.AssoonasIsaidyes,hebeggedmetogivehimmywalletsothathecouldpretendthathewastheonepayingtolookgoodinfrontofthewaitress.IwassooveritthatIagreed,gavehimmywallet,andhepaid.Whenshebroughtbackthechange,Irealisedthathehadleftaten-poundtip.Iwasfurious.Firstofall,atipwassupposedtobeonlytenpercentofthebill,andsecondly,themoneywasmine,andIwasn’tplanningontippingawaitresswhohadignoredmeallthetimeIwasthere,becauseshewasbusyflirtingwithmydinnercompanion.When he got me home, I realised that the girl had put her phone number in his pocket. He was

proudlyshowingittoanyonewhowouldlisten,soIgrabbedhisarmandsnatcheditfromhim.Imadeitcleartohimthatsinceitwasmymoneythatboughtthefood,thegirl’snumberwasalsomine.Irealisedtoolatethathewouldkungfumeifhehadtoinordertogetthatnumber,soIjustsprinted

away and ate the number while he was chasing me. He got his revenge on me by barging in thebathroomwhileIwasintheshower,andpeed,ignoringmyscreamsforhimtogetout.Thelistofhisnonsensewasverylong,soashewasstandinginfrontofmenow,Iwasabouttotell

himtoclearoffwhenhesaidthathehadseenWadeAllenTillersoninthediningroom,talkingtooneofthedinnerladies,andoneofthemhadhandedhimtheplasticbottlethestudentshadseenflyingandnoonehadrecoveredasfarasweknew.Scarlett,PamandIgaspedandlookedateachother.Thatwasdynamiteinformation.IhopedHassan

wasnotlyingtous,soIagreedtoincludehiminourgroup,andwhileweweregivinghimarecapofourjourneysofar,headdedthatArnoldwasmissing.Onhiswaytojoinus,hehadoverheardsomeacademicstalkingaboutthefactthatArnoldhadjust

disappeared and how upset they were that his replacement had not been properly vetted by theheadmaster.Healsosaidthathe’dheardthemsaythattheybelievedamissing-personreporthadbeenfiledbytheschool.ThefirstthingwedecidedonwastowaituntilafterAethelf-laed’sfestivaltostartourinvestigation.

Itdidnottakelong.ByMondayitwasbusinessasusual.ItwasdecidedthatthegirlswouldgoandfindoutwhatwecouldaboutArnoldfromtheA-levelYansandseeifhisdisappearancehadanyconnectiontothecult,andtheboyswouldtryandfindthedinnerladyHassanhadtalkedabout.Fromwhatwe foundout, it seemed thathehadno family; his familywas J.C.Asmuchas Iwas

worriedaboutArnold,itoccurredtomethathewasnottheonlyschoolemployeethathaddisappearedallofasudden.Ihadnoticednottoolongagothatoneofthelive-outschoolgroundkeeperswasn’tworkingatJ.C.

anymore,butsinceitwasn’tthefirsttimethatastaffmemberhadleft,Ihadn’tpaidmuchattentiontoitatthetime,butIdidnow.Ihadbeentoldthatinthepast,whenastaffmemberleftoftheirownaccord,the rumours of their upcoming departure would be all over the school, even if they didn’t have agoodbyeparty,butnotthatguy,andthatcombinedwithArnold’sdisappearancewasverystrange.

Thatnight,inmyroom,thegirlsandIstartedamysteryboard,andwepinnedupallthecluesthatwehad found. Ihad learned readingAgathaChristie andArthurConanDoyle that everygreatdetectivekeptrevisitingtheirfindingswhilegatheringtheirthoughts,soIcreatedtheboardtohelpmedothat.Atthemoment,wehadpeopledisappearingandstudentsdyingwithoutanyoneseemingtocareor

knowabout it.Sopeopleneeded to realise that something seriouslywrongwashappening.Also,weneededsomething inwriting incaseanythinghappened tous, something toallowanyone topickuprightwherewehadleftoff,somethingclearandsimplejustincasethelastmanstandingwasHassan.Ialsostartedwritingajournal.WhoeverwastoreplacemeneededtoknowexactlyhowIhadgotto

myconclusionsandwhatIwasfeelingatthetime.LittledidIknowthatwhileIwasplayingamodern-dayNancyDrew,stepswerebeingtakenthatwouldresultintragedystrikingourschoolonceagain.

The following weekend, we went to the Mystery Pot tavern. It had been opened by J.C.’s Frenchculinaryteacherwhentheschoolfirstopened,andwasbuiltbasedonamodelofaGaultavern,withwoodenwindows,athatchedroofandatall,slightlytiltedgreystonechimney.Inside,thetableswerelongandwooden,withwoodenbenches insteadofchairs,whichmeant that sometimesweendedupsittingnexttocompletestrangers.TheMystery Pot only opened on weekends and featured the best dishes of the week, cooked by

students,andtheywereallJ.C.students’originalrecipes.Thebestpartwasthatthenameofthecreatorswasknownonlybythetavernownerandtheschoolacademicstaff,andattheendoftheyear,thedishthathadbeenvotedthebestbythestudentswouldgetaprize,aswellasitscreator.Themostamazingfoodwaspreparedthere,anditwaseveryone’sfavouriteplacetoeat,alongwith

theMagicWrap, thebest sandwichshopever.At the tavern,wehad themostamazingchickenJ.C.,whichwasoneofmyfavouritedishesintheworld.Itwasbraidedchickenbreaststuffedwithbéchamelsauceandbacon,servedonabedofmorelmushroomsandpotatogratin.Wewereabouttoleavewhenweoverheardthetablenexttous.Theyweretalkingaboutanaccident

involvingaJ.C. teacherandher twochildren.Theyhadbeenfounddeadafter theircarhadskidded,crashedandturnedoveronimpact.WefoundoutthatitwasAmelia’steacherMsVeronicaThompsonMontoya.Shewasyoungandbeautiful. I consideredher thenicest,most elegant, loving, caring andacademicinthewholeschool,andshewasalocal.ShehadbeenbornandbredinGatewayHill.Weranoutandpartedwayswiththeboys.Thegirlswenttothepostofficetogetmoreinformation,

andtheboyswent to tellotherstudentswehadjustseenin thevillage.Thepost-mistresswastellingsometouristhowpoorMrThompsonhadbeenwaitingforthemtocomehome.Hehadcookeddinnerforthemandhadbeensettingthetablereadywhenthepolicecameanddeliveredthenewstohim.Thatpartwassosadthattearsstartedrollingdownmycheeks.Icouldn’tbearthethoughtofthatman

waitingforhisbeautifulfamilyandfindingoutthattheoneshewaswaitingforwouldneverreturn.

We left the post office, andwe all hugged to comfort each other. Everybody lovedMsMontoya.Williamsawthatwewereupset,sohetookmeinhisarmsandembracedme.IfithadbeenHoganthathad done that,my thoughtswould have still been on the tragedy, but itwasWilliam, and I had thebiggest crushonhim.Havinghimhugmemademyheart jump, and I forgot aboutMrThompson’ssadnessandshamelesslyenjoyedthemoment.WhenIsawthesmirkontheguys’faces,Isaid,“What?Ineededahug.Haven’tyoueverneededa

hug?”AndIblushed,unfortunately.Igotthesamereactionfromthemthatpeoplehadwhentheyheardpoliticianssay,“Ourthoughtsand

prayersarewiththefamily.”Noonebelievedthem,butnoonedaredtosaythatoutloudeither.Whenwegotbacktoschool,IdidmybesttoconsoleAmelia.Shereallylovedherartteacher,andI

couldseethepainonallherfriends’andclassmates’faces.ItdidnottakelongfortheschooltofindareplacementforMsMontoya.Actually,itwasquiteaspeedymove,becauseMsMontoyahadhadheraccidentonSaturday,andbyMondaymorningherreplacementwasalreadythere.HernamewasMsDujardin.MyfirstimpressionwasthatCruelladeVilmusthavehadatwinsister

DodieSmithhadforgottentotellusabout.Notonlythat,butshelookedlikeshecouldn’tspellthewordsmileandalwayshadadisapprovinglookonherface.Butasitturnedout,shewasabouttobetheleastofourproblems.AfewdaysafterMsMontoya’sdeath,Istartedtobecomeworried.Afeelingofuneaseplaguedme

everytimeIwenttoclass.Iwasstartingtoseefaintshadowsaroundtheschoolfromtimetotimeandalwaysduringtwilight.Iwasn’ttheonlyonestartingtoseeshadows.DuringFISTanumberofstudentshadstartedtotalk

aboutcatchingglimpsesofshadowscirclingtheschool.Theolderstudentshadalsostartedtocomplainabouthaving the feelingofbeingwatched.Seeingshadows in theMasaniworldwasnotunusual forYans;sincethecrackingoftheveil,itwasafrequentphenomenon.When Yanar came up with a protection shield for our territories, the sight of shadows there

disappeared.Atthetime,theYanpopulationwastoldthattheshieldwasobstructingtheview,butthecouncilsmade itveryclear that theveilwasstill as fragileasbefore. In theMasaniworld,however,sincetheyhadnoshield,wewouldoccasionallyseesomeshadowsinthesky,butnotasmuchasinJ.C.Itwasasiftheyweregatheringaroundtheschool.I realisedthatPamandIhadclosedmymother’s investigationtoosoon.Shewasright;something

waswronginEngland,andithadtodowiththeveil.Thatverynight,Pamand I gaveher a full report ofwhatwehadbeen seeing and the increase in

shadowpresencearoundtheschool.MothertoldusthattheyhaddiscoveredaportalinUtah,UnitedStates,buttheyhadnoideahowit

hadbeenopened,bywhomorwhy.

When we asked her what the portal looked like, she said, “For now it is just a deep, dark holeprotectedbyashimmeringshield.Weareinvestigatingthephenomenon,butIverymuchdoubtthatitlookslikethatunopened.Justbevigilantanddonotattractattentiontoyourselves.”Ireplied,“Verywell,Mother.”“Verywell,Auntie,”repliedPam.PamandIwerestartingtothinkthattheremightbeaconnectionbetweenthedeathsinourschool

andtheinvestigationwewereconducting.Wesurmisedthattherewasn’tenoughdangertopromptustorevealtotheboysthemissionmymotherhadgivenus,notyetanyway.The feeling of unease in the schoolwas taking its toll onme, and Iwas starting to becomemore

withdrawn.Iwasmissinghome,andSurrey’scharmswerenotdoingitformeanymore,andthewinterholidayscouldn’tcomesoonenough.Forsomereason,thelargenumberofshadowswasaffectingmemorethantheothers.Iwasfeeling

dizzy at times and I had nausea occasionally. The surprising thing was that Amelia and Alex weresharingthesamesymptoms.WehadbeentothelocalGP,buttheycouldn’tfindanythingwrongwithus.ThegoodnewsformewasthatIwasgettingextraattentionfromWilliam,butthebadnewswasthat

WilliamhadforbiddenmefromcontinuingmyinvestigationuntilIwasfeelingbetter.The others decided to continue with the investigation into the case of the missing school staff

memberswithoutAlexandme,andbydoingso,theydecidedthatitwouldbeagoodideatotalktothecolleaguesandfamiliesofthemissingpeople,whenevertheyhadthechancetogotoGatewayHill.Theyweredeterminedtolearnasmuchastheycouldabouttheirbackgroundstory,iftherewasone,

andfindwheretheymighthavegoneandwhy.

A smuchasIwantedtopleaseWilliamandtaketheinvestigationslowly,beingpartofateammeant thateventuallyoneofuswouldhave todosomething theydidnotwant to for thesakeofthegreatergood.Ibravelycontinuedtheinvestigationintothedinnerladies,which

wentnowherebecausetheboyscouldn’tfindtheladyHassanhadseenwithWadeAllenTillerson.Theyhaddonetheirjobdiligently.Thewomanhaddefinitelydisappeared.Theschoolgroundsstaff

theyhadinterviewedsworetothemthattheydidn’tknowanythingaboutthemissinggroundkeeperorwhereArnoldcouldpossiblybe,either.IwasonmywaybacktothemainhallwhenIstartedtofeeldizzy.Ihadjustsatdownonthestairsto

catchmy breathwhen I started burning up. It felt like a volcanowas erupting insideme. I draggedmyselfintotheclosestlooandpassedout.IwokeupnotknowinghowlongIhadbeenlyingonthefloor.Istartedwalking,notrealisingwhere

Iwasgoing,whenIendedupintherecreationalroom.InoticedthatTristan,ScarlettandHoganwerethere, but unfortunately, they were not alone. Eugenie Pollard was sitting with them, clutchingWilliam’sarm.

Atthatmoment,jealousyjusttookoverme,andIwishedIcouldsendanenergyballtoobliteratethatgirl. I couldn’t believe that someone likeWilliam, who was smart, brilliant even, and had such anincredibleheart,wouldwanttobewithaharpylikePollard.Ineverdidunderstandwhyshewassopopular.Yes,shewasacutegirl,butshewassoobsessedwith

make-up and overused it so much that it was very difficult to see what she really looked likeunderneath.Shespentthreehoursdoinghermake-upeverymorning.Evenageishadidnotspendthatmuchtimeonhermake-up,andyetPollarddid.Everythingonherwasfake,fromherfakeeyelashes,herfakegreeneyes,herfakehaircolourtothe

fakedesigneritemsshewaswearing.Sincewe’dgottoJ.C.,shehadtriedtogetclosetoPamandme,especiallyafterwehadbecomesopopular. Itclearlymattereda lot toPollardandhergang,becausealthough she obviously disliked us, she kept inviting us to every single one of their gatherings andoutings,invitationsthatwehadalwaysdeclinedquiterudely,Imustsay,andnowthereshewas,sittingamongmyclosestfriends.IguessedhavinghersittingwithmygangwasapunishmentfromOdin.Sincesharingaroomwith

Scarlett,IhadattendedafewSundayservicesatJ.C.’schurch,organisedbytheChristianclub.Iwasinterestedinfindingthedifferencesbetweenourreligions,butall I foundwasabunchofsimilaritieswithdifferentnames.ItmusthaveangeredOdin.The Christian club was founded by two sixth-formers, Scott Haggerty and his girlfriend, Emily

Green.TheywerepartofScarlett’schurch,calledFreedomChurch,andeverySunday, theywatchedlivetheSundayservicedeliveredfromHereford,where,likeAmeliasaid,themothershipwasbased.I finallyworked up the strength to go and join the group.Then, putting onmy best fake smile, I

managedtobeciviltoPollardbutnotfriendly.InYanschools,studentswerecalledbytheirsurnames,nottheirfirstnames,unlesstheywerereallyclose,soitwaseasytoknowwhotruefriendswereandwhowerenot.AssoonasIsatdown,therewasPollard,andshesaid,“Hi,Diana.”Thosewordsjustinfuriatedme.HowdareshecallmeDiana?Iwasnotafriendtoher.Iwasbarely

anacquaintance,soIsaid,“It’sKorsningtoyou.Wearenotfriends.”InoticedWilliam’seyesonme,andIcouldseehisbodytensingup.IwasalsowatchingScarlett,and

shewas reallysweet toPollard,andIcouldn’tunderstandwhy.Pollardhadneversaidaword toherexcepttomockherreligiousbeliefsandhadsofarmadeapointtoignoreher,butthenagain,Scarlettwasasweetheartandreligious,soquiteforgiving.Williamgotup,tookmyhandandpushedmeintoacorner.Icouldseethathewasupsetwithme.He

said, “Don’t do this. She ismy friend. I know that you don’t like her, but I need you to give her achance.”“WhyshouldI?YouknowthatIhateher.Everybodyinourgrouphatesher,butyoustillthoughtit

wassmarttobringhertoourgroup?”Isaid.“Sheisoneoftheschool’sworstbullies.Sheisawfulto

anyonethatshejudgesnotgoodenough,andyouexpectmetoturnmybackonmyfriends,whohavesufferedherinsultsandhorrendousbehaviours,tomakepeacewithher.Howcanyouaskthatofme?”Iadded.Thatwasalittledramatic,butIwasbankingonhimbeingtoomuchofagentlemantonotice.The

realitywasthatIhadfinallyrealisedthatIwassimplyjealousofPollard’srelationshipwithWilliam.Herbeingabullywasjustagiftfromthegods,becauseitallowedmetolookandfeeljustifiedwhenIwasmeantoher.HecouldseeIwasupset.Icouldseethathewasupset.ItwasjusttoomuchformeandIrancrying.

Atthatpoint,Ijustwantedtodie.IhatedlivingintheMasaniworld.Theirworldcouldturnthebestofusintopettyanduselessbeings.IneededtostayawayfromWilliamandthefeelingshewaswakinginsideme.WhenIhadcalmeddown,Iwentbacktojointhegroup,andInoticedthatWilliamwasholdingmy

tabletandreadingmynoteswithPollard.Tomysurprise,mybloodstartedboilingandmyeyesstartedsendinglightningboltstowardsthem.Forsomereason,Iwantedtoshoutandalmostscream.“Whogaveyoupermissiontotouchmythings?”Igrabbedmytabletandtookitfromhim.Ifeltsoashamedofmyself,andwhatmademattersworse

was that I sawPollard’s eyes, and she looked really scared. She had never seenme look that angrybefore.I usually had a blasé lookor a bored lookonmy facewhen Iwasunhappy about something, but

William was turning me into something I hated, and despite Pollard’s multiple faults, she did notdeservemebeingmeantoherbecausewelikedthesameboy.Shereallydidnot.Somehow it felt likeWilliamknewwhatwasgoingon inmyhead,becausehegavemeacheeky

smirk,thensmiledandsaidinapatronisingvoice,“Oh,comeon,sheisoneofusnow.Shemightaswellbecluedin.”Ifeltbadforhim;itwasn’thisfaulthewassohot.

Winterbreakwasfinallyhere,andassoonaswegottoLondon,wewereshippedtoYanara.Iwasgladtogohome.IwasevenhappierwhenIheardthatPamandAlexhadbeenseenonthelifttomyhometownbecausetheylivedinYanarCity,soIhadn’texpectedthemtobeontheirwaytoYanara.Yanarawas thecapitalcityof thenorth. Itwasalso itsbiggestcity.Yanarawasan icecity;all the

houses and buildings were built using ice blocks. The only touches of colour were the inhabitants’clothesandthelightsallaroundthecity.Yanarawas as prepared forYule as usual.TheYule celebrationwas themost important of all the

Norseholidays andwas twelvenights long.On thenight of the twentieth ofDecember, thegoddessFreyarodeovertheearthtobringlightandlovebackintotheworld.

YuletotheYanssymbolisedthestartandendofallthings.Duringthisfestival,OdinrodeacrosstheskyonSleipnir,hiseight-leggedhorse,andleftgiftsforthechildren,whointurnlefthimandhishorseedibletreatstosaythankyou.Itwasa timefor feasting,givinggiftsanddancing,andwewereallgettingexcited todig into the

festivitieswhenweweretoldthatitwouldn’thappenthistime.InsteadofdivingintothepreparationofYanara’sbiggestholiday,weweretakenstraighttoamilitarytrainingcamp.Thecampwashideous;thebarracksweremadeofsheetmetal,andtherewasn’tahintofYuledecoration.Foramonthnow,mostYansatschoolhadcomplainedaboutnotfeelingwell,myselfincluded,and

ourtemperaturewashigher,butwhenwehadinformedourFISTtrainer,hehadtoldusnotworry.HeassuredusthatitwasanormalphenomenonandthatwewouldfindoutmoreduringtheYuleholidays.Nowwewereallpacked inoneof thebarracks,waiting foragreatannouncement. Itdidnot take

long.AdamKorsningWu,mycousin,cameinandburstintoflamesinfrontofus.Weallscreamedinjoyandexcitement.Thefirepowerhadrevealeditself,andwewereallheretobe

trained.Warwasuponus,andvictorywouldbeglorious.Thescreamsofjoydidnotlastlong.JustafterAdam’sspectacularshow,wesawsomeonecomein.

We knew him for being one of the most famousMasanis living in Yan territory: General GrigoriyVittorioVasiliev,commanderofourarmy.Being aMasani in a Yanworld was very difficult becauseMasanis in general were weaker, less

intelligent, less educated and less advanced thanYans.Unfortunately for us, thatwasn’t the case forGeneralVasiliev.Thefirstthingheannouncedwasthatanyoneoldenoughtobeenrolledinthearmywouldnottake

part in theYule festivities, andsecondly,wewouldnotbeallowed to seeour familiesuntilwewentbacktoschool.Thanksalot, jackass, I thought.Yulewasmyfavouriteholiday,and insteadofbeingon thestreet,

dancing,weweregoingtotrainwithaninsensitivepsycho.Mybrothersbeinginthearmy,Ihadheardalotofstoriesaboutthegeneral’swayofcommandinghistroops,andnoneofthemwerepleasantatall.The general also separated the members of the Ten from the rest of the group. As much as I

understood that being members of the Ten made us more powerful, I didn’t see the need to trainseparately,butvoicingmyopinionwouldnothavemattered.I couldn’t believe that wewouldn’t be able to go home. As amember of the Ten, I lived in the

suburbs,andIlovedit.Yanara’ssuburbwasnicknamedtheVillageintheClouds.Theneighbourhoodwas built with blocks of ice, using a Viking village as a model, including the local temple. Thefoundationshadbeensculptedintotheshapeofclouds,whichgavetheimpressionthat thedwellingswere floating in the air.The general councilwanted to feel like theywere living in heavenwith thegods,andtheyhaddoneamagnificentjob.

Thetrainingcamp,however,wasoutsidethecity.Ilovedthesnow;winterwasmyfavouritetimeoftheyear,butevenIwaslongingforsomeheat.Theymadeususeourpowerstobuildourowndwelling.Themetal-sheetbarracksweremadefortheofficersandtrainedsoldiersonly,apparently.Therestofus“freshofftheboat”,astheycalledus,weretakenbacktotheMiddleAges,andwehadtolearnhowtosurvive.ItwasevenmoredifficultfortheoneswhowerefromtheYanarislands,becausetherewasnosnow

thereandtheywalkedaroundtowninbikinisallyear.TraininginYanarawasabigdealforeveryone.MostofthearmedforcestrainingcampswerelocatedintheYanarislands,andbesidestheNorse,theScots,theIrishandtheSwedishdescendants,therestoftheYansusuallylivedinthesouthbecausetheypreferredthehotclimate.Ineverthoughtthat thedaywhenIlearnedtothrowballsoffirewithTristan,Alexandourfriend

ChristianAltkaseiwouldeverexist.Althoughwehadbeenseparatedfromtherestofthesoldiers,allfirepowerholdersgottoliveandtrainwiththemembersoftheTenbecausetheirpowerwasasstrongasanyofours,Omnisexcluded.Thefirepowerhadrevealeditself,andjustlikeinthepast,aswellasalltheOmnis,ithadawakened

in somemale and femaleYans, and Iwas ecstatic to see that three ofmy closestmale friendswereInfernos.Alexhadbeentheonlyreceiverofthefirepoweramonghissiblings,butafterwitnessingthetwins

Francesca and Christian Altkasei working together, he shared his power with Pam, and she in turnshared her terra powerwith him,whichmade themduals.Beingmembers of theTen, and thereforequitepowerful,thecouncilhadnooptionbuttoallowthesharingofpowersbetweenkinuntiltheendofthewar.Soafterthepainoflearninghowtoliveinaveryunfriendlyenvironment,westartedtohavefunwith

thefirepower.IwasanOmni,soflyingwasnotnewtome,butteachingtheothershowtoflywiththeirpowerwasexhilarating.Thefirsttimeweburstintoflames,weburnedourclothesandwerenaked,butthetrainerswerereadywithspecialfire-resistantclothesforus.Wemanagedtothrowblazesoffireaswellbeforeleavingandwrote“J.C.”inbigonthesnownexttoourcamp.Somethingdidbotherusalot:wehadYansasyoungastwelveandasoldasfiftytraining.Thatwas

veryunusual.ThewarcouncilwasdefinitelypreparingforwaronEarth,andbesidesRagnarök,Ireallycouldn’tunderstandwhatkindofwarcouldpromptthemtohaveoldYansintrainingatall.

W henwegotback,somethinghadchangedbetweenus.Pam,Alex,Tristan,AmeliaandI,after ourmilitary training inYanara, had becomewarriors and had not been in touchwiththeothers.

Ihadthefeelingthattheytookitpersonally,becauseastimewentby,spendingtimewithWilliam,Hogan,Hassan,ScarlettandDelphinebecameharder.Icouldfeeladivide,andIdidn’tknowwhetherPam,AlexandIwerecausingitwithoursuperiorattitudeorwhethertheotherswere,withtheirvexeddemeanour.Becauseofthetraining,allYansenrolledinthearmyhadcomebacktoschoolafullmonthafterthe

restof theschool.Bythat time,Pollardhadnowbecomeanintegralpartofeverysingleoneof theiroutingsandwasbecomingveryclosetoScarlett.ShehadevenjoinedFreedomChurch.Pollard’stwobestfriends,ElisabethMaoriWalkerandDanielleHoughtonMorgan,hadalsojoinedthegroup,andIcouldn’tfigureoutwhen,buttheyseemedquitecomfortablewithmyfriends.Pollardwas now the new sheriff of the group,who had transformed themselves into being sassy,

pretty, very feminine, flirty and popular, wearing the latest fashion and having their hair, nails and

make-updoneperfectly everyday. If Ihadn’tknownbetter, Iwouldhave thought thatwewere in aVoguestudio.Evenwhenwewereinuniform,youcouldstillseetheirsenseofstyleglowingthrough.Scarlettwas

lovinghavingthemaroundandwasspendingalotoftimewiththem.Iwasn’thurtbythat;Scarletthadalwaysbeenveryfeminine.Shewasverymuchinto1950sstyle,andIknewthatshehadbeenlongingtobeabletotalkchiffonandsilkwithsomeonewhoappreciatedthatsortofthing,andthatwasn’tmeatall,butshecouldhaveatleastspentalittletimewithme,besideswhenwewerebackinourroom.Pamwasveryfashionableonpaper,butwhenshewasn’tmodelling,shewasalittlebitofatomboy

likeme–jeansandtrainersandnomake-upwhatsoever.Likeanygirldumpedbyherfriends,Igotonwithmylife.Everyday,PamandIwouldmeetafter

class,andonweekendswewouldgodown to thevillageandhangout,but thingsweregettingveryuncomfortablewhenwewerewiththeothergirls.PamandIweregettingquitealotofpressurefromtheothergirlstogetboyfriends,especiallyfrom

Pollard,whowas focusingonme themost.Tobe fair, itwasobvious thatshewantedWilliamback.WhatIhadn’texpectedwasthatsheknewofmyfeelingsforherex.Bad luckforher, Iwasn’t interested inanyone,andIhadprettymuchshutdownanyonewhohad

eventriedtostirmeintoaromanticrelationshipwiththem,andthatwasnotweighingonmeatall.Iwasprettyhappybymyself.However,beingforcedtospendtimewithpeopleIhadnothingincommonwithwas depressing. Iwas one of the few redheads in the school. I neverworemake-up and hatedfashion,andIwasstartingtostandoutforit.Clearly,afterrealisingthatshecouldn’tpushmeintothearmsofAchillesoroneofthepopularboys,

Pollarddecidedtoattackmyfashionsense,constantlymakingfunofmytom-boyishoutfits.Iwasn’tthetypetoapologiseforbeingattractive.Iknewthatitwasoneofthethingsshehatedthe

mostaboutme,nothavingthepowertoturnmeintoanunattractivegirl.Unbeknowntoher,herplanwasworking.EmotionallyIwasweakening.Thetruthwasthateventhe

moststunninggirlwouldloseconfidenceinherselfifshewasconstantlycriticisedforheroutfitsandneglectedlook,andIknewthatbeingmadetofeellikePippiLongstockingaroundthosegirlswasnotokay.IhadalwaysidentifiedwithMerida,fromBrave,becausewehadthesamethick,longcurlyhair,and

shewasatomboylikeme,butmyself-confidencewasfading,andnoneofmyfriendsbesidesPamwasnoticingit,anditmademehatePollardevenmore.Istartedtopullbackandspendmyfreetimeinmyroom,onmycomputer,andstoppedanswering

myphone–notthatIdidnotstillhavePamtohangoutwith,butshewasanover-achieverandalwayshadamillionactivitiestodo,whileIwasprettylazy.Eventually,shenoticedthatIwasgoingdowntothevillagealone,andshedecidedthatshewould

notletmebealoneanymore,sowestartedgoingonexcursionstogether.Itfeltgood;likebeingbackin

Yanara.Onedaywesawpostersofamissingperson;ayoungmaninhistwenties.Wewereabouttowalk

awaywhen I noticed a logoon the paper.That logowas the signof the general council,whichwasunusualenough,butitalsohadtheletters“ACC”,whichwasimpossible.Wehadbeenwearingthesignofthegeneralcouncilonsomeofourjewellerysincewewerechildren–onlymembersofthegeneralcouncilandtheirfamiliesdid.Thelogowasalsoononeofmybraceletsinmyroom,butonlyaYanwouldhaverecognisedit.TheYanargeneralcouncil,unlikethewarcouncilandthecouncilofinterioraffairs,wasmadeupof

sixmembersbutwasoftenruledbyfive.Yanarbeingameritocracy,eachcandidatetothecouncilchairbattleditoutwithotherapplicants,andthewinnergotthechair.Eachchairrepresentedonepower,andwiththefirepowerbeingrare,itschairwasrarelyoccupied.Samantha Rafnkell Wu, Pam and Alex’s mother, sat on the earth chair. Leone Croise, Hogan’s

mother, sat on the energy chair.Noone sat on the fire chair at themoment.KaiOpiopio,my friendLeilaniKahueOpiopio’saunt,satonthewaterchair.TheairchairwasoccupiedbyDorotheaAltkasei,FrancescaandChristianAltkasei’scousin,andtheomnichairwasoccupiedbymymother,ElsefBoubaKorsning.Whenwewereyounger,weusedtoattendwhatwascalled“thecouncilmembers’weekendgetaway”

withour families, andon eachof thesegetaways,wewould receivegifts from theorganisers, like anecklaceorabracelet,atrinketreally,asareminderofthatyear’sgetaway.On one of those getaways, on our second day, when I had joined the other children for teatime,

Hoganhadbeeninthemiddleofaspeech.Hewastellingthemthatwehadbeenboundnotonlybythe“vowsoffriendship”butalsohadformedasecretclubthatnooneelsewouldbeallowedtoenter.Wewere,fromthenon,the“allianceofthechildrenofthecovenant”,orACC,andheaddedthattheACCwouldlasttilltheendoftime.Ihadtriedsohardnottoreact,butmyeyescouldn’tstoprolling.AllIcouldthinkwasThankOdin

theolderkidsarenothere.Theywouldmakefunofusforever.Thenhepulledoutleatherwristbandsforustowear.Onthemwasthecouncil’slogoinsilver,and

each power’s individual logowas sewn inwith the letters “ACC” inscribed on it.He had spent theentireweekdesigning,preparingandorderingthem.Itwas incrediblygenerousofhim togiveus that amazinggift. Iwasno longer rollingmyeyes. I

lovedthebracelet;itmadeusfeelsoconnected.Hecontinuedbysaying,“Wearenolongerjustfriends.Wearebigger,stronger,moreconnectedthanthat.Weareanalliance,andassuch,weshouldhaveanemblemandcodes,asecrethandshake,everythingthatmakesanalliancewhatitis.”Asmuchastheideaofbeingasecretsocietywasridiculous,thename,althoughquitelong,sounded

pretty cool and grown-up for a group of children aged between ten and twelve.Besides,Hogan had

comeupwiththestupidname,buthelookedsopleasedwithhimself,andthewristbandswerereallycool,soweagreedtogowithit.OvertimeI’dhadtoadmitthat theACClogohadlookedmoreandmorebrilliant,andnowitwas

here,inGatewayHill,onaposter.NowIwasstaringataposterofamissingmanwith theACClogoon it,and itdidnotmakeany

sense.TheACConlyallgot togetherwhenwewereonholidayinYanarorduringcouncilweekend,anditwastoplaypranksandhavefun.Withallthestrangeeventshappeningintheschool,Icouldn’thelpbutwonderifoneofourfriendswasnotintrouble.Theonlywaytohavethatlogoattachedtotheposterwouldbetogetitfromoneofourbracelets.

AftershowingthemissingpostertoPam,wecalledLeilani.Luckily,shewaswithFrancesca,andtheyagreed to check if either of their braceletswasmissing. In themeanwhile,wemade ourway to theMagicWrap,whereweknewthatwewouldfindHogan.WhenapproachingtheMagicWrap,Icouldseetheorange-and-greensignfromacrossthestreet.I

wasnervous; Ihada feeling thathewouldbewithWilliam,and Ihadbarelyseenhimsincewegotbackfromourwinterholidays.Forsomereason,myheartwasracing.Ihadthejitters.IwasabouttoturnaroundandleavewhenIheardsomeonecallingme.Iknewthatvoice.ItwasavoiceIhadmissedlikecrazy.ItwasavoiceIhadbeenlongingtohear.ItwasWilliam.I turned around and watched him running towards me. He stopped just in front of me. He was

panting.SowasIandIhadn’tevenrun.Heraisedhisrighthandandcaressedmycheek.Myheartwaspounding.Myheadwasspinning.Icouldn’tthinkstraight.ThensuddenlyIwasinhisarms.Heputhisheadonmyheadandwhispered,“God,Ihavemissedyou,”andthenhekissedme.Ishouldhavepushedhimaway,butIcouldn’t.Ihadfalleninlovewithhimwithoutrealisingit,and

nowhereIwas,inhisarms.Ishouldhavebeenhappy,butatthesametime,whatIhadjustseenwasweighingonme,andIdidn’twanttobotherhimwithit.Heheldmyfacewithhistwohandsandkeptkissingmeoverandoveragain.Theoutsideworldhad

disappearedforus,untilweheardsomeonecough.Iturnedaround,andallIcouldseenowwasPam’svery annoyed face. She really disliked anyone going off script. Then therewasAlex, aka the Joker,walkingtowardsus,whoatthatverymomentIwishedwasstillinGotham,andhestoppedandstoodtherewithamockinggrinonhisface.IturnedawayandwasfullyintendingonwalkingawayfromthemandstraightintotheMagicWrap

withtheothersfollowingwhenPamreceivedaphonecall.Justatthatmoment,Ifeltlikesomeonewaswatchingus.IturnedaroundandIsawHassanstaring,

rollinghiseyes.HehadneverlikedWilliam,buthewasn’twhoIwasworriedabout.Itwastheshadowstandingbehindhim.William,PamandAlexturnedaroundwhentheysawtheexpressiononmyface,andtheysawthe

shadow,allexceptWilliam,whichwasnormalbecausehewasaMasani.Hassanmusthavesensedthat

something was wrong, because he turned around as well, but as soon as he did that, the shadowdisappeared.Fear settled in. I saw Pam grab her brother’s hand, and I instinctively grabbedWilliam’s, while

Hassanran towardsus.Hewasprettyshaken,andhe looked terrified. Iactuallyhesitated to tellhimaboutthebracelet,becausethatwouldjustamplifyhisfear,butIhadnochoice.WewereabouttogoinwhenHassanpushedWilliamawayfromme,lookedstraightintohiseyesandsaid,“Don’tyouhaveagirlfriend?”I turnedred. Iwanted theground toswallowmefully.Thatwas theworstsituation.Whatmade it

worsewasthe“Excuseme?”thatcameoutofPam’smouth,andahugelaughburstoutofAlex’s.Iwasmortified.HereIwas,havingtoexplainmyselfagain.IwasabouttodosowhenWilliamsaid,

“We haven’t been together since last summer, you doughnut.” He looked atme, tookmy hand andsmiledatme,thensaid,“Weneedtotalk,allright?”My heartwasmelting. I could only nod.What Iwas thinkingwasForget talking. Let’s just keep

kissing,but thatwouldn’thavebeenvery ladylike. Instead, I stoodnext tohim,myfaceenlivened. Iwasfeelingoverjoyed.IcouldfeelHassanrollinghiseyesatus,butatleastthedigatHassandidbringasmiletoPam’sface.WefinallymadeitinsidetheMagicWrap,andwhowassittingwithHogan?NoneotherthanPollard.

IturnedtolookatWilliam.Iwasfeelinguncomfortable.Icouldn’tunderstandwhy.Itwasn’tasifIhadstolenherboyfriend.WhenIhadmetthem,theywerealreadybrokenup,andyetthesituationwasveryawkwardforme.SittingwithHoganwereScarlett,Delphine,Morgan,WalkerandtwoMasaniboys,BilalAbadiand

AntoineBrown. Ididn’t like themmuch.Actually, IevenhatedAbadi.Hewasasnake, theschool’sbiggestgossip,andhehadtalkedabouteverysingleoneofhisfriendsbehindtheirbacks.HelookedlikeaSouthAsianMrBeanandwasthestupideststudentinhisclass.EverybodyhadgoodreasontohateAbadi,Ihadheard.Whenwehadgottotheschool,weweretold

thattheyearbefore,Abadihadsleptwithsomeoneelse’sgirlfriendandtheyhadbeencaughttogether.Inordertoavoidgettingthebruntoftheotherstudents’insults,hehadcreatedawebpagevilifyingthegirl he had sleptwith, calling her a prostitute and listing names of other boys in the schoolwho heimpliedshehadalsosleptwith.Hehadtoldpeoplethatshehaddeceivedhim,andhehadthoughtthatshewas single.Shehadbeen soupset that shewouldn’t leaveherbedroomandwanted to leave theschool.Delphine and her gang had decided to help her, and they took a picture of Abadi’s pants. They

zoomed inonhisprivatesandplaced iton socialmediawithacaption: “Multipleusers,50porbestoffers.Incaseofdisappointment,norefundwillbegiven.”Hewokeupwithoffers fromgirlsaskingforhissexualservicesandofferinghimbetween1pand

20p.Hewas“slutshamed”byallthestudentsandlefttheschoolforaweek.Whilehewasaway,his

victim’s friendspaid someone toprove thathehadmade thewebsitevilifyingher and took it to thepolice.Hewaschargedwithharassment,andhisparentshadtopayafine.Abadi tried to getDelphine arrested aswell but could never prove that shewas behind the social

mediaattack.SherealisedthatshehadsunktoAbadi’s levelandadmittedto theschool thatshewasresponsible.Shewassuspendedforaweekbutavoidedbeingpunishedfurther.Afterhisparentshadbegged theschoolnot toexpelhim,he returned to school in shameandwas

madetopubliclyapologisetohisclassmatesandhisvictim.Afterthat,nogirleveragreedtodatehimagain,andhehadbeentryingtogetagirlfriendeversincewithnosuccess.Brown,however,wasAlfredEnoch’sdoppelgängerandanA+student.Ifhehadn’talsobeenoneof

themostarrogantstudentsinJ.C.,wecouldhavebeenfriends.HewaspartofWilliam’soldgroup,whohadbeenstickingtoHoganandAlexlikegluesincetheyhadarrivedinJ.C..Unfortunately,AbadihadbeenstickingtoBrowneversincehehadlosthisotherfriends,andWilliam

thoughtitwouldbeun-christiannottowelcomehimwheneverhewantedtositwithus.Williamwasnotawareofwhathadhappenedwiththeposter.NeitherwasHassan,andIdidn’twant

totalktoHoganinfrontoftheotherssittingwithhim,soIsignalledtohimwhileeveryoneelsewasgrabbingchairsexceptAlex,Pamandme.AlthoughwehadnotusedtheACC’ssignalsforyears,IknewthatHoganwouldn’thaveforgotten

them. Luckily, hewas sitting next to Scarlett, and Pollardwas facing the door, and the othersweregivingustheirbacks.Iclutchedmyfistandhitmyleftshouldertwice,whichmeant“trouble”,andheimmediatelyexcusedhimselftojoinus.ScarlettandDelphinegotupwearingbigsmilesontheirfaces,walkedstraighttowardsmeandgave

meabighug.Tomysurprise, sodidPollard. I thought,Wow, the lengths thatgirlwillgo to to lookgoodinfrontofotherpeopleisastonishing.Ididn’twanttogivetherestoftheirgrouptheopportunitytocomeandkissme,soIwavedatthem,

grabbedHogan,andwelefttherestaurant,leavingthefashionsquadandco.behind,orsoIthought.WhenHogansawoneoftheposters,whichincidentallywasplasteredoppositetheMagicWrap,his

faceturnedwhite.Heturnedtowardsmeandsaid,“Weneedtocalltheotherholdersofthebraceletsandmakesurethattheyareallright.”AlexandPamwherebehindusandsaidinonevoice,“Toolate.”Weturnedtowardsthemindisbelief.Isaid,“What?”At thatmoment, I thinkPam realised that I thought our friendswere injured, so shequickly said,

“No.Theyarefine,butthegirls’braceletsaremissing.”That wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at all. Then I felt an unease coming from behindme. I turned

aroundanditwasHassan.Helookedveryuncomfortable.Ilookedstraightathimandsaid,“Whatdidyoudo?”Hegavemehismostuncomfortablesmirkandsaidveryquickly,“Tostartwith,itwasn’tme.”

Atthatpoint,Ithought,Shocker,andgavehimthe“spillit”look.Thenhesaidthatbeforethestartofthe school, they had been hanging out inWestfield,WhiteCity,withmy cousinAnthonywhen twoolderguysapproachedthemandshowedthemtheYantattoo.YansthatdidnotliveinYancommunitiesworeatattooofYanar’smaponthemandpresenteditto

otherfellowYanstoberecognised.Theythenaskedthemif theyhadeverseen“that”,andtheyproducedadrawingofabracelet,and

Hassanansweredaffirmatively.Theywerethenaskedifanyofthemcouldgettheirhandsonone.TheylookedateachotherbecausetheybothknewthatIhadoneintheAbigailballetshoesmusic

boxtheyhadgivenmeformyeleventhbirthday.Theyaskedwhytheywereinterestedinthebracelet,andtheguysignoredthequestionbutinsteadjustofferedthemfivehundredpoundsforit.HassanandAnthonybeingalwayspennilessforsomereasonoranother,Iwasnotatallsurprisedthat

theyhadagreedtotakethemoney.Theydecidedtomeetatthesamelocationthenextday,andthatverynighttheystolemybraceletandsoldittotheguysthenextday.Aweekafter,AnthonytoldHassanthathehadfoundmybraceletinthemailboxandreturnedittomymusicbox.When I asked himwhat the older guys looked like, he gaveme a generic description: tall, pale-

skinned;onewasblonde, theotherhadbrownhair, fit, sporty-typeguys,around thesameageasourparents,whichmeantearlythirties.Yanstendedtogetmarriedveryearlyonbecausethelifeexpectancyof power holders was fifty-five. The legal age to get married was sixteen, and we tended to havechildrenveryquickly.Itwasclear fromthedescription thatneitherof themwas theguyon theposter.Theguywewere

staringathaddarkhairandwasyoung–earlytwenties.Wehadbeentargeted,andwedidn’tknowwhy.ByweitwasprettyclearthattheACCandonlytheACChadbeentargeted.Evidentlytheyweregivingusamessage,butwedidn’tknowwhatitwas.Soherewewere,theACCfacinga“real”threat–unliketheusual,whichwasbeingcaughtdoing

somethingnaughtybyourparents–andIneededallofustoputourthinkingcapson.ThetruthwasthatIwasprettyscared;theyhadgonetomycousin,soitwasonlylogicaltoassumethatImighthavebeentheirfirsttarget.WedecidedtoditchthegroupattheMagicWrapandmakeourwaybacktoJ.C.WesentHassanto

keep the others from following us. Thiswas anACCmatter, andwe really did not need anyone towitnessourcarelessness.Whenwegottothedormitories,wereviewedwhatwehadwiththeACCteamonvideochat.Theymighthavebeenthousandsofmilesaway,butthisissueconcernedthemaswell.Wehadstolenoneofthepostersandshowedittothem,butnoneofthemknewthemaninthepicture.We checked ifwe still had our bracelets and realised that Pamand I had had ours stolen aswell,

whichmeantthatminewasstolentwice.ThatalsomeantthatalltheACCgirls’braceletsweregone,buttheboysstillhadtheirs.WecouldonlyconcludethatwhoeverwasbehindthisknewexactlywhowewereandhowthepowersystemworkedamongtheYans.

Afterreturningdownstairs,wefoundHassan,William,Scarlett,Delphine,Pollard,Walker,Morgan,BrownandAbadisittingtogetheranddiscussingthemultipledeathsintheschool.Ifeltlikethegodshadfallenontheirheads.Whatweremyfriendsstilldoingwiththeseguys?WhatexactlydidIhavetodotospendonehouraroundmyfriendswithoutthem?Icouldn’twatch themanymore. Iwentback tomy roomandPamfollowedme.SheknewIwas

angry,sotocheermeup,westartedworkingonourinvestigationofthedeaths.Ourtheorywasthattheschool had been created as some type of sacrifice altar for some unknown deity, and in exchange,whoeveragreedtothedealwasrewardedwithalotofmoney,aswehaddiscovered.Anotherpuzzlingthingwouldhavebeenthelocation,ifwehadn’tknownabouttheportal.PamandI

deducedthatifwetookitatfacevaluethatthedeathswereinthesamelocationastheanomalyanditcouldnothavebeenacoincidence,thenwehadabigproblem.Thatwouldonlymean that the cultmemberswere theones thatwere creating the anomalies, and

since the shadowswere circulating around the school,we could only assume that the cult had beencreatedbyaliens.

S pringhalf-termwashere,and Icouldn’tbear the thoughtofbeingawayfromWilliam,so Inursedtheideaintheothers’headstoinviteourdearfriendstostaywithus.ItwasdecidedthatwewouldinviteeveryonetoLondonwithus.ThegirlswouldstayintheKorsningwing,

andtheboyswouldstayintheCroisewing.Actually,HogantriedtomixitupbyhavingScarlettstayinhiswing,butchurchgoerScarlettpolitely

declinedtheinvitation,soshecamewithPam,Delphineandme.Pollard,WalkerandMorgantriedtogetthemselvesinvited,andsodidAbadiandBrown,butIrefusedandforbadeHogantoevenentertaintheideaofinvitingthem.WhenwearrivedatDraycottPlace,theguyswereveryimpressed.TheyhadneverbeenintoaYan’s

house,andtheywereveryshockedandamazedbytheamountofantiquesintherooms,especiallytheweaponroom,wheretherewasadisplayofprogressionfromthefirstYanweaponstotheonesinusetoday.Yanarwasextremelyadvanced,andalthoughwewerenotallowedtouseourtechnologyoutsideour

territories, in our communities we did use it, especially in the house. Everything was electronic,computerised,andweevenhadanAM–anautomatedmaid.

Afterrunningintosomefamilymembersandhavingtosayhellotoeveryone,weimmediatelydivedintoourinvestigation.Nomatterhowbadseeingourinsigniaonaposterwas,theschoolwastherealtreat.Somethingwasgoingon,andithadalinktotheschool,sowedecidedthataninvestigationintotheschool’shistorywouldbeveryinformative.Weagreedthatwehadtofindouteverythingabout theschoolsinceithadbeendonatedtoSurrey

CountyCouncil,anditsfirstheadmaster.Wehadcometotheconclusionthatnothingcouldhappeninaschoolwithouttheheadmasterbeingapartofit.Ifhehadhadanyobjectionordisagreedwithanything,hewouldhavedonesomethingbynow,sohemusthavebeenpartoftheproblem.WehadbeeninDraycottPlaceforafewdaysandwerehavingthetimeofourlives.EvenHassan

andTristanhadbeenstayingwithus,andWilliamandIweregettingcloserandcloser.Wewereliketwo lovebirdscutoff from theworldandwouldgoup to the roofeverydayandwatch the sunset. Icouldn’thavewishedforbetter.Oneday,whilewatchingamovieinthemovieroom,weweretoldbytheAB–automatedbutler–

thatafewpeoplewantedtoseeme.WhenWilliamandIgottothedoor,werealisedthatitwasAbadi,Brown,Pollard,MorganandWalker.Apparently,afterrealisingthattheywouldnotbeinvitedtojoinusinLondon,theyhadacceptedAbadi’sinvitation.Abadi,fromwhathetoldus,livedinsouth-eastLondonwithhisparentsandfivesiblings.Hisfather

was awealthy businessman, and hismother a doctor. They had a nice large property inGreenwich.Apparently,aftercruisingtheinternet,theyhadeasilyfoundoutwhereDraycottPlacewasanddecidedtodropinforavisit.Assoonastheyarrived,thegirlsmadeitclearthattheywouldratherstaywithusthanwithAbadi’s

family,citingthatAbadi’sparentswereverystrict,sotheyhadnotbeenenjoyingthemselvesthere.Sotheretheywereatourdoor,allsmiles.IunashamedlyaskedAbadihowheknewaboutDraycottPlace,andhetoldmethathehadgottentheinformationfromHogan.ItdidnottakelongforhimtoadmitthatHoganhadinvitedthemtopopinforavisitanytime.After

leavingtheminthehall,whereeverybodyhadgatheredsincetheirunwantedarrival,IgrabbedHogan’shandanddraggedhimawayfromthegroup.IsaidtoHoganinYan,“Aswaytiguinadjena?Dumeadowada ha do bey mabbe?”whichmeant “Have you lost your mind?What are you doing here withthem?”He turnedaround, smiledat them, then turned tomeandsaid,“Beyhandinimenpat.halah timmi.

Jotacamatchubebenasta,”whichmeant“Theyalreadyknowaboutus.Thegameisup.Justletthemin.”Iwasadamantthatnoneofthemcouldstaywithus,soHoganandWilliamhadtoconvincethemto

gobacktoAbadi’shouse.

AlexhadcomplainedmanytimesthatoneofthewallpanelsinhisdormitoryatJ.C.wasloose,soafterbeingignoredbyeveryone,includingus,whenitcametohisaccommodationproblems,hehaddecidedtofixithimselfbeforeheleftforhalf-term.After pulling the panel out, he noticed that therewas something hidden inside thewall.When he

pulleditout,herealisedthatitwasadiary.Therewasnoname,butduetothefactthatitwasinaroomthatwasintheboys’wing,weguessedthattheauthorwasaboyofsimilaragetous.HereaditassoonastheyarrivedinLondon.TheauthorhadwrittenaboutafriendofhisandsomeonecalledLuke,whohad passed away in suspicious circumstances mid-term in the school year. The friend’s name wasLillianPaterson.Afterreadingthename,weGoogleditandfoundoutthatherfatherwasaveryfamousjournalistwho

hadcoveredthecountry’sbiggeststoriesandriskedhislifemanytimescoveringwar-torncountries.Hewasalsoknownfordenouncingabusefrombigcompaniesanddenouncinginjusticeinthework-place.Hehadbecomethego-tojournalistforwhistle-blowersalloverEurope.Wealsofoundoutthathewasaradiohostonashowthatwasextremelypopularandhadmillionsoffollowers.Lillian’smotherwasapainter.Shewasknownforherdepictionsof thehumansoul incolour.The

attemptfromsomemainstreamreligionstocloseoneofhereventshadputheronthemap.Shewasoneof the most recognised figures in the art world. Her philosophy that each person was inhabited bydarknessandtheyshouldacceptandembraceitwassaidtoberegardedasverycontroversial.Shealsohadalegionoffanswhosawherasavisionary,andherbookaboutherartandtheforcebehinditwassaidtohavebeenflyingofftheshelves.Accordingtothediary,everyfreehourshehadduringtheweek,Lillianwouldgotothecanteenand

orderthesamething:custarddoughnutswithhotchocolate.Oneday,rightbeforeEaster,theyhadgonetothecanteentogether.Thistime,however,hercustardcakesandherhotchocolatewerealllaidoutforheronaplatter.Thekitchenladysmiledatherandtoldherthatshehadanticipatedhercoming,soshewasreadywithherorder.Lillian took theplatterand left,walking towardsherusualseat.Thediaryauthorwas rightbehind

her.When itwashis turn togivehisorder,heobserved thekitchen ladyspeaking toa skinny,grey-hairedmaninblack.TheywerebothwatchingLillian.Noticinghispresence,thekitchenladywalkedtowardshimandgavehimhisbananacakesandhotchocolate.Hewentstraight tohisusualseat,whichwasoppositeLillian’s,andtoldher that ifhewasher,he

wouldn’teatordrinkwhatshehadbeengiven.Sheaskedwhy,andhepointedatthepalemaninblackandthekitchenlady,andtoldherthathehadheardthegentlemanasktheladyifshehadgiventhegirlthefood,andthekitchenladyhadrepliedthatshehadandthatshewasabouttoeatit.Headdedthatwhilehewasinthemiddleofhisnarrative,theybothlookedtowardsthekitchenand

realisedthatthekitchenladywasstillstaringatLillian.Evenafterwitnessingthat,Lillianstillbrushed

itoffasifshehadn’tseenanythingstrange.Hewrotethatshehadtoldhimthatitwasprobablynothing.Afterthebreakwasover,theywenttoclassand,lateron,backtotheirrooms.Thenextday,thenewsbrokethattheverysamenight,Lillianhadbeenstrickenwithanillnessand

died.Hewantedtosaysomethingbutthenrealisedthatitwouldhavebeenpointless;althoughhewasuncomfortablewithwhat had transpired the day before,what hadhe actuallywitnessed?Two adultsbeingwarmandconsideratetoastudentandwatchingherwhileshehadhertea?Itwouldhavegonenowhereandonlyangeredhisparents,whowouldhaveseenitasaneedforattentionwhenallfocusshouldbeonhisrecentlydepartedfriendandherfamily.Asshockingthediscoveryofthediaryanditsverytroublingcontentwas,itwasn’tasbadaswhatwe

were about to uncover. I had believed everyword in the diary, andwe had decided to do our owninvestigationontheschoolacademicstaff.Asdifficultasitwastofindinformationaboutpeople,Iwashome, and therefore, I could usemy tracker. I knew that anything out of the ordinary in their liveswouldhaveatleastgottenafewsentencesinthelocalpaper,andIwasright.Itturnedoutthatoneoftheschoolteachershadlostallherchildren,andshehadfour,oneafterthe

other.Theywerenotstudentsattheschool,buttheydidlivenexttotheschool.Thattheirmotherwasoneoftheschoolacademicstaffmadethatdiscoveryassadandtragicasitwasratherstrange.An imagewas starting to form inmy head, an imagewhere the people involved could have had

somethingincommon.Ithink,inaway,weallwerestartingtonoticeapatterninthetragediesthathadplaguedtheschool.Averychillyanddisturbingpatternwhereparentsweredirectlyinvolvedintheiroffspring’sdeaths.

A fewdaysafterthat,wewerebackinschoolagain.Half-termhadbeensofunitfeltlikeitwasonly aweekend; beingwithmy friends andbeing able towalk aroundLondonwithWilliam,holdinghandsandhavingfun,wasamazing.

Thenextdayafterwearrived,whenwewokeup,wewere told thatwehadbeenconfined toourquarters and all classes had been cancelled for the day. As usual, rumours started flying in thedormitories,andIwassuretheinformationwascomingfromtheolderchildren,whoseroomswereonthefirstfloorandhadwindowsfacingtheschool.Fromwhatwewerehearing,thepolicewerealloverthebuilding;apparently,abodyhadbeenfoundintheforestadjacenttotheschool.After a while, wewere allowed to leave our houses, but wewere told that wewere not allowed

anywhereoutsidetheschool.Curi-osityisaplague,becausetheroadtothedininghallfeltlikeforever.Assoonaswegotthere,wesawtheboysandrantowardsthem.Iwas desperate for someone to tellme anything aboutwhat had happened, andmy heart jumped

whenIsawWilliam,butmyjoydidn’tlastlong.SittingatthesametablewasPollardandhergangasusual.Hogan,Alex,TristanandHassanwerethere,aswellasScarlett,andIsatnexttothem,andwe

found out from the boys about the killing.As horrible as the crimewas, I couldn’t help a sense ofexcitementatthethoughtthatourinvestigationwouldbeanimatedwithsuchatangiblesituation.Luckily forus, thegroundkeeperswereexpertgossipsandweredoing their jobadmirably.Oneof

them had apparently ventured into the forest for some unknown reason and had stumbled onto thechopped-upbodyofanundressedwoman.Obviouslynotwantingtobeupstagedbythedeath,Pollardstartedwithafakescaredcryandjumped

intoWilliam’sarms,saying,“OhmyGod!It’ssohorrible,sohorrible.”Ithought,Really,Pollard,really?Intoyourex’sarmsandin frontofhisgirlfriend?I justcouldn’t

believeit.WilliamsawthatIwasstaringatthem.Ireallywantedtoleave,butpridewasoneofmybiggestsins,

anditwasgluingmetothespot.Icouldtoleratealotofthings,butbeingabletoremainindifferenttothat kind of obvious nonsensewas beyondmy strength, so I rolledmy eyes.Obviously,Walker andMorgansawme,butIcouldn’thavecaredless.Hassansawmetoo,andheburstoutlaughing,whichattractedtheattentionofthemotheroffaketears,Pollard.Unsurprisingly,he toldher,while still laughing, that Iwas rollingmyeyesand thatnooneon the

tablewasbuyingherdamsel-in-distressact.Iwasfrozen.AllIknewwasthatPollardwasinWilliam’sarms,anditwasdrivingmecrazy.TheworstpartwasthatIwasn’tevenmadatPollard.Ididn’tlikeher,butithadnothingtodowith

herrelationshipwithWilliam.Actually,Ihadheardfromherfriendsthatshewasaprettyloyalfriendwhenyouwerepartofhercircle.TheoneIwasreallyangryatwasWilliam.Wewereacouple;hehaddeclaredhimselftome,soheshouldhavepushedherawayandtriedtoavoidupsettingme.Iknewitwaspartlymyfault.Ihadnothingtobejealousof;theywerefriendsandIwasbeatingmyselfupaboutmyreactiontothesituation,butIwasonlyhuman.Ireallywantedtoleave,butthensomeonetouchedTristanontheshoulder.It was William. Tristan smiled and switched places with him. I didn’t know what to say. I was

overwhelmedwithemotions,sowhenhetookmyhandandpulledmetowardshimandhuggedme,Ijustletgo.Iputmyheadonhischestandclosedmyeyes;thenhekissedmeontheforehead.Loveisastrangething;itmakesyoucrazyonesecond,andthenextitsendsyoutoheaven,andthis

waswhere Iwas, in heavenwith the boy I loved. For some reason, Pollard,whowaswatching us,turnedred,anditlookedlikeshewasabouttolashoutatuswhenPamcameinrunning.Iwas surprised; shewas extremely late, so late that I thought that she haddecided to stay in bed

becauseshehadjustgottenherperiodthatday,but it turnedout thatwasn’t it.Sheactuallyhadnewinformationforus.ThebestpartcamewhenPaminsistedthatwefollowedhertoanothertablebecauseshedidnotwanttotalkinfrontofPollardandherfriends.Theyprotested,buteveryoneknewPam’stemperament–shewasverymucha“crossmeatyourownrisk”individual.Icouldhavekissedher.

Thesecondshesaid that the informationshehadwas forYanearsonly, I froze.Williamwasn’taYan,buthewaspartofus.Morespecifically,hewasapartofme.Hassan,ofcourse,couldn’thavebeenmorethrilled.IfithadbeenDecember,hewouldhavebeggedOdintobringPamaboatinrecompenseforthatmove.AnythingthatexcludedWilliamwasgoodasfarashewasconcerned.TristanandAlexweregettingupaswell,butIsawHogan’shesitation.HewasinlovewithScarlett,

and spending time with her mattered a lot to him. Pam was a great girl, but she could be veryautomaton-likesometimesandwasnotafanofauselesscrowd.Shehadnointentionofbackingdown,butluckily,Alex,beingthehappy-go-luckypersonweallknewandloved,convincedhistwintoallowScarlettandWilliamtofollowus.Pamturnedtowardsmeandraisedhereyebrowsatme.Iknewthatshewasaskingmetohavethe

lastsay,soItoldthemthatScarlettandWilliamwerewelcometojoinbutthattheotherswouldhavetoremainseated.Averyshadymoveonmypart,butIwasn’tabovepassingupanopportunitytoannoyPollardandhergang.WilliamandScarlettgotuptojoinus,andwewenttoatableatthebackofthediningroom.Icould

senseWilliam’sangeratmeandsloweddown,givinghimachancetotalktomealone,andhetookit.Hegrabbedmyarm.Atthatpoint,Iwasseriouslythinkingofcharginganarmtaxbecauseclearlythatwashisfavouritemovetowardsmeeverytimehewasupsetwithme.Helookedmestraightintheeyesagainandsaid,“Stopthat.Iamaskingyoutostopthat.Sheisnot

withmeanymore,andyoumightnotlikeher,butsheisagoodpersonandshedeservesachance.”Isaid,“Oh,really,Will?AndwhyshouldI?Stopforcingmetomakenicewithher,andbytheway,

sheisnotmyonlyproblem.Iwantthemallgone.Ihavenosympathyforanyofthem.IpromisedtobeciviltothemandIhavebeen,butIdonotwanttobefriendswiththem.Acceptitornot,yourchoice.Eitherway,Iamdonearguingwithyouaboutit.”Thatwasacheapshot,butitfeltamazing.Ihadfinallygivenhimapieceofmymind.Iwantedthe

formerlyfabulous,orwhatevertheirnicknamewasatthemoment,outofmylife.Whenweweredone,werealisedthatwehadbeenscreamingateachother,andeveryonenearushad

heardus.WewerestandingthereinsilencewhenHassansaid,“Oohlalalala,”andeveryonestartedlaughing.Hassanwasknownforhiscolourfulvocabulary,andheusediteverytimeagirlwentoffataboy.IfeltbadforlosingmycomposurewithWilliamandbeinghumiliatedbyHassan,theneighbourhood

douchebag,aswell, so Iapologised.Heacceptedand followedme toPam’s table,whereshe tolduswhatshehadfoundout.Accordingtoher,whathadactuallyhappenedwasthatoneofthegroundkeeperswouldsometimes

gointotheforestwithArnoldandmeetwithafriendoftheirswholikedmakinghisownwine.Theywouldbeinthewoods,pickingupsomeoftheingredientsforhiswine,andinreturnhewouldalwayscarryabottleforthem.

Theonly catchwas that theywould have to look for him in the forest if theywanted to get theirbottles,becausehewasanomad.Ourwinemakerwasahermit,andafterhehadfoundeveryingredientheneededforhisbrew,hewouldgobacktooneofhisshedsandnotbeseenforaweekormore.ThegroundkeeperhadapparentlyexplainedthatsinceArnold’sdisappearance,hewasstrugglingto

findDunbar,theeremite,andwasgettingdesperatewhen,justashewasabouttoturnaroundandgohome,hesawsomethingthatlookedlikeafoot.Hewasunsureifheshouldgotowardsit–hewasnotamanwholikedtointrude–butwhathelikedevenlesswassomeoneintrudinginhislife.Hedecided that itwas in his best interests to go and have a look in case he could see something

valuable that he could take from what he thought was the drunken body of the missing Arnold.However,whenhegotcloser,he realised that itwasn’tArnolddrunk, sleeping itoff. Itwasn’t someroughsleepereither.Itwasapentagramfacingdown,madeoutofthebodyofawoman,withtheheadinthemiddle,replacingtheheadofthegoat.He screamed in fear and ran towards the closest road he could find. He started calling for help,

grabbinganyonehecouldseeandmumbling,“Abodyintheforest,abodyintheforest.”Eventually,someonedecidedtohavealookwhileapasser-bymadethepoormansitandtakesome

water.Themanquicklycameback.Hewaswhiteandshaken;hecouldbarelyspeak.Allhecouldsaywas“OhmyGod,ohmyGod.”Awomanaskedhimifhehadcalledthepolice,andallhecouldmanageasaresponsewastonod

yes.After hearing Pam’s story, I felt confined, and not knowing anything was drivingme crazy, so I

decidedtosneakout.Iknewthattheboys,beingthegoodytwoshoestheyalwayswere,wouldtrytostopme,exceptforHoganandHassan,ofcourse.IwantedtoletHoganknowaboutmyidea,buthewassittingtoofarawayfromme,soIhadnooptionbuttoleavehimoutofmyplan.IpinchedHassan,turnedtohim,smiledandsaid,“Ineedtheloo.I’llberightback.”Ihopedthatitwasenoughofaclueforhimtofollowmediscreetly,butIhadforgottenthat,asgirls,

welovedgoingtothelootogether,andwhenIgotup,sodidPamandScarlett.Ithought,Darn,that’sthelastthingIneed–therulefollowerandthebiblepusher.Pamcouldbeconvincedtofollowme–shewas adventurous–butScarlettwouldnever agree to sneakout to have a look at a deadbody. Idecidedtoriskit;mycuriositywaswaytoostrongtoresist.Wegottothelavatory,andItoldthegirlswhatmyplanwas.Tomysurprise,Scarlettwasupforit.I

guessedbeingreligiousdidnotmeanthatshewasawuss.Pamagreedtofollowus,butIknewthatshewasonlydoingittopreventmefromdoingsomethingstupid.Hassanwalkedinand,withoutaword,went to thewindowand jumpedout.Thatanswered thequestionofhowHassanknewall thegossipfromthegirls’dormitories;simple,hesneakedinourpartofthedormitoriesandusedtheground-floorlavatorytogoinandoutunseen.Wejumpedaswellandrushedstraightintotheforest.

GatewayHillonlyhadonecommunityofficer,TheresaSmith,andoneconstable,NigelAnderson.Neitherofthem,Ithought,hadtheexpertiseandtheknowledgerequiredtoconductaninvestigationofthat sort.Yet theywere the only ones around, plus some special constables fromGatewayHill, notexactlywhatIwouldcallthecrèmedelacrèmeofSurreyPolice.Interestinglyenough,ConstableAndersonseemedthatdaylikesomeonewhohadseenmorethanhis

fair share ofmurder. I had never seen him so calm and composed. Officer Smith, however, lookednervous,verynervousactually.Shewaswhiteasasheet.Itlookedlikeshewasstrugglingtohideherinnerturmoil,probablyprovokedbywhatshehadseen,butsinceshewasstillstanding,wecouldonlyspeculatethatshewasdesperatetoproveherself.I got closer to the police cordon – it’s amazing how being a teenager allows you to go places

unnoticedandunheard.Clearly,OfficerSmithwasoutofherdepth,becauseshekeptgivinghermucholdercolleaguea“whatthedevil?”look.Shekeptaskingherpartner,“Whatdothinkwearegoingtofind?Whatdoyouthinkwearegoingtofind?”That littleexchangebetweenthetworepresentativesof thelawmademethinkthatGatewayHill’s

finestofficershadnotbeennearthecrimescene,evenifeverybodyinthevillagealreadyknewwhatwasintheforest.I could see how annoyedConstableAndersonwaswith his colleague. If I hadn’t known better, I

couldhaveswornthathewasitchingtoslapherandwastryinghardtoremaincalm.Hejustrepliedthatgoodthingshappenedtothosewhowait,andIthought,Howcheeky!Talkaboutbeingpatronising.Ihadseenenough.Weneededtogetcloserandseethebodyforourselves,andwewouldn’tbeable

todothatfromwherewewere,soIcalledouttothegroup,andwewentbacktotheschoolgrounds.Wecameoutbehindtheboys’quartersandfollowedthelinewheretheschoolwallswerethelowest,andclimbedover.We then rushed into the woods and finally got to the clearing and froze.We saw Officer Smith

making the sign of the cross, and her colleaguewas seriously pale.We looked at each other, and Inodded,signallingtothemthatweweregoingin.We started approaching carefully.Wecould clearly see the so-called forensic team,butwhen they

removed their glasses and their white plastic hoods, we recognised the local medical team fromGatewayHill.Itwasquiteclearthatthesignoftheinvertedpentagramhadbeendoneinadvancewithaspraycan,

then the body parts placed later.One of the people dressed inwhite plastic suitswas saying that hethought that it must have been the work of either a deeply disturbed mind or a ritualistic, devil-worshippingkiller.Eitherway,itdidnotendwellforthatlady,Ithought.IthenlookedbehindmeandnoticedthatScarlettandHassanhaddisappeared.IturnedtowardsPam,

andsheopenedher leftpalmandusedtheindexandmiddlefingerofherrighthandtosimulatelegs

running,signallingtomethattheyhadrunaway,soIturnedaroundandstaredatHassan.Luckilyforme,heturnedaround,andIpointedtowardshimandScarlettandgavehimthetangentsign.Herolledhiseyes.Clearly,hewasunhappyaboutit,buthefollowedthroughanyway.ImustsaythatseeingadeadcorpseinreallifewasnotwhatPamandIhadexpected.Sincecoming

toJ.C., Ihadbecomeafanofhorrormoviesand thrillerswithgruesomedeath,andsohadPam,butwhatwesawwasworsethananythingweexpected.SuddenlyInoticedthatConstableAndersonwasmakinghiswaytocheckonOfficerSmith,whowas

vomitingnearby.Shewassweatingandshaking,whichbothPamandIcouldn’thelpbutrelateto.Wewantedtovomitaswell.ConstableAndersonhelpedherupandsentherback to thecar tocomposeherselfandhavesome

water.Hethengotonhisphoneandexplainedtowhoeverhewastalkingtothathewasworriedacrimeof this severity would require more than a two-person team to solve. The answer must have beennegative,becausehethensaidthatalthoughitwasn’ttechnicallyhisjob,hewouldstilldohisbesttofindoutwhathadreallyhappened.While I was spying on the corpse, Pam spied on the people in front of the school and followed

OfficerSmith to thecar.Fromwhatshe toldme later, theofficercameoutof the forestand foundalocal Gateway Hill journalist bombarding everyone with questions, and after seeing the officer, shedescendedonherassoonasshesawher,likeazombie.Weknewthatallofthiswasgoingtobealloverthelocalgazettebythenextmorningandthatthe

pressuretofindoutwhathadhappenedwason,whichmadeourattempttoapproachthebodydifficult,sowedecided tocreateadiversion.Whilewewerearguingaboutwhowouldbe thedecoyandwhowouldgettoapproachthebody,wefeltsmallstonesbeingthrownatus.Whenweturnedaround,wesawHogan,Alex,WilliamandTristan.TristanandAlexweretryinghardtocontaintheirhilarity,whileWilliamandHoganlookedfurious.I

knew why Hogan was angry – I had dragged his precious Scarlett here, and she must have run incrying–butIcouldn’tunderstandwhyWilliamwasangry.Theyapproachedandblatantlyignoredme.WilliamaskedPamtotellthemwhatwehadfound,soshenarratedeverythingtothem,aswellasourplantoapproachthebody.Intheend,weagreedthatWilliamwouldgoinwithhisphoneandrecordasmuchashecould,while

wewouldattracttheattentionoftheteamaroundthebodyinthehopethattheywouldchaseusdown,leavingthebodyunattended.It worked. We started making noises, and they noticed us, so we spread out, running, and they

followedus.Whilewewererunning,beingchasedaroundbyadults,Williamtookasmanypicturesashecouldand,assoonashewasdone,startedrunningtowardstheschool.Realisingthattheyhadleftthebodyunattended,theadultsstoppedchasingusandranbacktotheir

previousposition,allowingustogetbacktoschool.Iwasthrilled.Wehadpicturesandwouldprobably

getintoalotoftroubleforit,butitwasworthit.As soon as we got there,William was waiting for me. I thought,Great, now it’s my turn to be

hammered,andIwasright.HewasfuriousthatIhadnotaskedhimtojoinus.Hewasright,andIwassorryaboutit.IapologisedandtoldhimthathewasmyfirstboyfriendandI

didn’t really know how relationships worked. Luckily for me, he mellowed down, kissed me andhuggedme.Hesimplyaskedmenevertodoanythingwithouthim.Ipromisedtoalwaysincludehim.Thatanswerseemedtosatisfyhim,sohegrabbedmyhand,andwewentandjoinedtheotherstohavealookatthepictures.

T he photos were horrifying. I thought that a body looked bad inmovies, but in real life itlookedevenworse,nottomentionthatthesmellintheforesthadbeenhorrendous.Whenwewerechildren,HassanhadthrownmyBécassinedollinthesewer,andIhadclimbeddownto

retrieveit.Atthattime,IthoughtthatIwouldneversmellsomethingthatbadinmylifeagain.Iwaswrong.Unbeknown to us, Pollard hadmoved in behind us and seen the pictures. She screamed, andwe

turnedaround.At thatpoint, I seriously thought thatGatewayHillwasgoing tohavea seconddeadbody,becauseIfullyintendedtokillmyselfjusttogetawayfromthatgirl.Itfeltlikeshewasalwaysfollowinguseverywhere.Thenshepointedtothepictureandtoldusthatsheknewthevictim.Funnyhowfeelingsabout someonecanchangedrasticallyaccording towhatyougetoutof them.

Shehadbeenourbiggestdetractor,buteverybodythatdidnotlikeherimmediatelychangedintothosegoodoldfriendssheneverknewshehad.AlextookhergentlybythearmandgaveherhisseatrightnexttoWilliamandme.IcouldseeScarlettandDelphinesittingatthetablenearbywiththeirnewfriendsandgivingmetheir

legendary“youareshameless” lookbecause foronce Iwasn’tcomplaining. Iwasn’tgoing tobeher

bestfriend,butifshehadinformationIneeded,Iwaswillingtobeascourteousaspossible,soIchosetoignoretheirstares.Pollardinformedusthatthevictimwasalocalwoman,andsheknewhertohavebeenresidingnot

too far from our school. She also informed us that the victimwas the town alcoholic and regularlyverbally abused her husband and her neighbours. She had been arrested a few times for violencetowards her husband and children, but also for starting fights while being inebriated. She was theultimatelocalnuisance.“Andmanywillprobablyexpressjoyandreliefatthethoughtofherdemise,”saidPollard.Hassan,asusual,didn’tpayanyattentiontoPollard’snarrative.Hewasbusyplayingwiththephotos

andmakingcommentslike“Thesephotosareseriouslygruesome,andbythat,ImeanTexasChainsawMassacre–levelgruesome.Thisistop-levelpsychomovie.”Iwasstarting towish thathewas thewoman in thepicture.Thevictimhadhadherhaircut.The

bodypartsweremimickingthepentagram.Isavedthepictures,andbythetimewerealised,timehadflownbyanditwasalmosttimetogetbacktoourhouses.Schoolwasoutfortheday,soafterwehadbeensenttoourrooms,ScarlettinvitedPollardtojoinus

aswell;shehadbeenhelpful,andIhadpromisedthegirlsandWilliamtogiveherachance.MaybeWillwasrightabouther,Ithought.Walker andMorgan wanted to follow us as well, but Pam and I refused. Scarlett, Delphine and

Pollardstartedtopleadwithus,butIwasadamant.WalkerandMorgan finally leftafterPollardmade themleave,andwewere finallyable tostart to

know more about each other. Actually, all I wanted was more information about what I calledmyvictim,andIwashopingthatPollardcouldguideustowardsapossiblesuspect.AswegottoknowPollardbetter,somepeoplekepttellingmethatIhadmisjudgedher.Apparently,

shewasthedaughterof theformermayorofGuildford.Shehadbeensent toboardingschoolbyhermotherwhenshewastwelvetoprotectherfromherveryabusivefather.Afteryearsofabuse,salvationhadcomeforhermotherfromoneofherfather’smultiplemistressesaftershewenttothepoliceandaccusedhimofkidnapandtorture.Sheclaimedthatafterbeingtiredofwaitingforhimtoleavehiswife,shehadinformedhimofher

decision to leavehim.Thatwaswhenhewentcrazyand repeatedlybeatand torturedherduring thecourseofthreedaysuntilshewasrescuedbythepostman.Thatstoryhaddestroyedherfather’s lifeandcareer,butontheplusside,hewasnowtheguestof

HerMajesty in one of hermost refined prisons.He also finally agreed to give Pollard’smother thedivorceshehadbeenaskingforforyears.Iwas shockedbutglad and relieved that hermotherwas finally freeof thatmonster, but I had to

admit that I hadno sympathy for themistress andher father. I hadnothingbut disgust formen andwomenwhocheatedontheirpartnersorknowinglydatedmarriedpeople,andIthoughtthatalthough

shehadnotdeservedtobetortured,karmadefinitelymadesurethatshewouldthinktwiceaboutdatingamarriedman.Pollard’sbadattitudetowardspeoplewhohadahappyfamilylifeshouldhavemademoresenseto

me,but it didn’t.The“Papawasmean tome, so I ammean to everybody”defencewasgettingold.Everypsychowasalwaysusingit.Sowhatifshewashurting?Shehadnorighttolashoutatstrangersasaresult.Probably sensing that things were about to turn sour, Pollard spoke to me one-to-one. After the

informationshehadprovided,IthoughtthatIcouldatleastrepayherbylisteningtoher.Shestartedbyapologisingaboutherbehaviourtowardsthestudents,towhichIrepliedthatsheshouldaddressthoseapologiestothem,notme.Thensheapologisedforthewayshehadtreatedme.NowIwasinterestedbecauseasfarasIknew,allshehaddonewastotrytoforceherwayintomy

life,but itwas starting to feel like therewasmore.Sheadmitted that shehadnot likedPamandmewhenwearrived,becauseoftheattentionwewerereceivingfromeverybody,andsheparticularlyhatedmebecauseoftheattentionWilliamwasgivingme.Shehaddecidedtobefriendswithmyfriendsjust inordertopull themawayfrommeandisolate

me,butithadn’tworked.ThelaststrawforherhadbeenwhenIstarteddatingWilliamanddestroyedherchancesofeverbeingwithhimagain.Shealsoadmittedthatshehadamassivegirlcrushonmeandthatshehadhatedmeforitaswell.At

thatmoment,thegossipwassojuicyIalmostaskedhertogivemeaminutesoIcouldgoandspreadit.Idecidedtoletbygonesbebygones,andwehugged.ThensheaskedmeifIcoulddothesamewith

Walker andMorgan, and I flat out refused.My issueswith those twowere bigger than being bullyenablers; I personally held a serious grudge against them.When I realised that they had never toldPollardwhathadhappenedbetweenPam,meandthem,Ienlightenedher.AfewweeksafterwehadarrivedinJ.C.,PamandIhadwitnessedWalkerandMorgansneakingonto

abustoGuildford.AtJ.C.,thestudentsareallowedtogotoGatewayHillonaweekend,butonlytoGatewayHill.Theothertownswereofflimitswithoutadultsupervision.Afterseeingthegirlsdothatafewtimes,PamandIhaddecidedtojumponabusandpayGuildfordavisit.We did some shopping and were about to leave when we saw them get on another bus, so we

followed,hopingtobetakentoanicemarketoryardsale,butthatwasnotthecase.Weendedupinaplace called Stoughton. It looked like a run-down areawith nothing interesting to see, andwewereabouttoleavewhenagroupofthugsappearedandstartedtauntingthegirls.Theytriedtomoveawayfromthem,buttheguysstoppedthemandstartedattemptingtotouchthem.

Wehadseenenough.Thereweresixofthem,andwedidn’tknowif theywerearmedornot,butwecalledouttothemandtoldthemtostayawayfromthegirls.Theystartedtolaughatus.Peopleacrossthestreetstartedtotakeaninterest;theywereallstaring.Iwalkedstraighttotheonewhoseemedtobetheleaderandtoldhimtoleave,andhesaid,“Orwhat?”

Ismiledandsaid,“Takeyourgroupofhumanrejectsandleave,orI’llbreakyournose.”Heturnedtohisfriends,whobynowhadabandonedWalkerandMorganandhadstartedgravitating

aroundPamandme,andrepeated to themwhat Ihadsaid.Theystarted laughing,andhesaid,“Lastchance,apologiselikeagoodlittlegirl,orgetyournosebusted.”IlookedatPamandshelookedatme.Wesmiledateachother,andIsaid,“Noseitis.”Hesaid,“Allright,then,”andheproceededtoattempttopunchme,butIwasfasterthanhim,andI

dodgedhispunch.Ithenhithim,andallhellbrokeloose.Weallstartedfighting.AguyontheothersideofthestreetrantowardsPamandme,whileothershadtheirphonesouttocallthepolice.Buttheentiretime,WalkerandMorganwereineachother’sarms,screaming.Theydidnotmove;

theydidn’t even attempt to help us.We couldhavebeen seriously hurt, but they clearly didn’t care.Theychosetostandthereandwatchuspossiblygetbeatentodeath.After thelastguydroppedto thefloor,Iwalkedtowardsthem.Iwasfuriousandsaid,“Seriously?

Seriously,youdidn’tcometohelp?Areyouserious?”Theymumbledsomemeekapology,butIwassoenragedthatIpunchedMorganintheface,andshe

endeduponthefloor.IwasgoingtodoittoWalkertoowhenPamgrabbedmyhandandstoppedme.Shetoldmetoletitgo,butsheissuedthemawarning.Shesaid,“ListenverycarefullybecauseIam

not going to say this twice.Next time you are in trouble,wewill let them kill you. From now on,considerusenemies.Whatyouhavedonetoday,wewillneverforgiveorforget.Youandus,wearedoneforever.”Wethenleftafterthankingtheonlypersonwhohadcometoouraid.Wecouldhearthegirlscrying

butwedidn’tcare.WhenIwasdonewithmynarration,Pollardwasleftgobsmacked.Shestoodtheresilentforawhile,

andIwasjuststandingtherewithmyarmscrossed,readyforanargument.Sheproceededbysaying,“It’snotthesame.YouguysareYans.Theyarenot.”Iwasoutraged.Thefact that theyweren’twilling to lendusahandproved that theywerewithout

honorandtheirstandardofmoralitywaslow,andsowasherssinceshewasdefendingthem.Iwastednotimethrowingthat inherface,andsheturnedred,realisingthatherargumentwasnot

sound. Then I proceeded to remind her that Yan women, although we have supernatural powers,MorganandWalkerhadnoideathatwewereYans,andyettheydeliberatelyleftustobebeaten.That,tous,wasthehighestlevelofevil.Inmyeyes,thegirlswereworsethantheirattackers,andI

hadnointentionofeverforgivingthem,letaloneevergoingtotheirdefence,nomatterhowmuchtheymightneedit.PollardbeggedmetogiveheramomentwithPam,andshedidthesamething.Sheapologisedfor

herpastbehaviourandaskedifPamwouldagreetogiveherachance.Pamagreed,buttomydismay,shealsoagreedtogiveMorganandWalkerachance.IknewthatPamwouldtryandpersuademetofollowherlead,soIranawayandjoinedtheothergirls.

Over the next few days, I realised that Pollard and I also had a lot in common, like our love ofMasterChefAustralia.EverybodywhoknewmeknewthatIwasabigfanofMasterChef,eventhoughIcouldn’tcook,butPollardnotonlylovedtheshow,shewasalsotakingculinaryclassesaswell,andshealso agreed thatMasterChefAustraliawas the bestMasterChef in theworld,with themost talentedcontestants.I also foundout that thebest foodat theMysteryPotTavernwascreatedbyher culinary teacher.

Most of the tavernmenuwas created during class by him, so she knew the recipe ofmy favouritedishes.Herteacherwastheonewhohadcreatedmyfavouritestarter,thedivineavocado-wrappedprawns,

myfavouritemain,thechickenJ.C.,andmyfavouritepudding,theJ.C.cake,whichwasacakemadeofpastryandfilledwithfennelcrèmemadame. Itwasservedasabigsliceofpuffpastryshaped likeasliceofcakeandwasridiculouslybeautiful.ThemomentPollardsaidthat,Iautomaticallyturnedintoherbiggestfan.Herdreamwastomoveto

Australiaandenterthecompetition,andIwascertainthatshecouldgiveReynoldPoernomoarunforhismoney,oratleastagoodtry.

A lthoughwewerewonderingwhyanadulthadbeenkilledthistimeandnotastudent,weputasideourinvestigationuntiltheweekend,soassoonastheweekendcame,Pamdecidedtogetbacktothesceneintheforest.Nomatterhowmuchweweretryingtogetintothemind

of themurderer,we couldn’t understand the reasoning behind such an act. Everyone except Scarlettunderstoodtheconceptofkilling–humanbeingshadaninfinitenumberofreasonsbehindkilling–butthemessagethepentagramwassendingwasdifficulttounderstand.Afewdayslater,thedeathofthelocalwoman,namedasMrsWilliams,hadobviouslybecomethe

soletopicinclassandoutsideclassforwhatseemedaneternity.Someofthestudentsevenclaimedtohave seen her ghostwalking down the corridors, as if shewould really botherwith them instead ofhauntingherhusband.Aftermuchspeculationaboutwhowasresponsibleforherdeath,itwasannouncedinthenewspapers

thatthehusbandhadbeenarrestedonsuspicionofmurder,thenreleasedonbail.Apparently,hehadgottiredofbeingabusedandhadretaliated.Itsoundedabitfar-fetchedtomebecauseifhereallyhadhadenoughofbeingmistreated,hecouldhavejustleft.Whystayandthenkillhiswife?Itdidnotmakeanysensetomeatall.Lateron,itwasrevealedthathehadanalibiandwasclearedofallcharges.

Thestorycouldhaveendedthere–well,forusanyway–ifwehadn’tfoundchunksandchunksofhairattheKGB.TheKGBwasanoldandalmostabandonedshedonschoolgrounds.ItwassowellhiddenthatIhad

nameditKGBaftertheSovietUnionsecurityagency.TheolderJ.C.studentswereknowntohideinitformultiplereasons,butPam,Scarlett,DelphineandIusedittopractiseoursongfortheSurrey’sGotTalent,orSGT,competition.EveryschoolinSurreywasallowedtosendtheirfivebest talentstothecompetition, and thewinners got not only great prizes but also a trophy for their school, but beforegettingtoSGT,weneededtobeamongthefivebestintheJ.C.’sGotTalentcompetition.Ihadnottoldtheboysofourdecision tocompete.Pam,DelphineandScarlettwere finewith theboys findingoutwhatwewereupto,butIwasn’t.HavinggrownupwithHassanandHogan,Icouldn’tbearthethoughtofthemmakingfunofmeduringrehearsals.Theyhaddonesowhenwewereinprimaryschool,andIwasnotpreparedtorelivethat.WehadseenpicturesofMrsWilliams,andthechunksofhairintheKGBwerethesamecolouras

hers.Wealllookedateachother.IknewwhatIwasthinkingwasgruesome,andIwashopingthattheotherswerethinkingthesame,butnoonewastalking.Icouldfeelfeargrowinginsideofthem.Itwasobvioustheywereallreachingthesameconclusion,andthenScarlettaskedmewhetherIwasgoingtosayitorsheshould.IguessfeargavestrengthtoScarlett,becauseshewasusuallyalotmorereservedthanthis.Shewasright,ofcourse;someonehadtosaysomething,soIgavethemmytheory.Tomeitwasclear thatMrsWilliamshadeitherbeenheld in theKGBor,evenworse,beenkilled

there.Thethoughtofhermurderhappeningwherewewerestandingstarted tomakeitswaythroughourminds.Ifwewerescaredbefore,nowwewerestartingtogetterrified.TherealitywasthatifshewaskilledorattackedintheKGB,thenhadherbodycarriedtothewoodstomasktheoriginalcrimescene, thatcouldonlybring forthonequestionnoonewanted toask:howdidsheenduponschoolproperty,andwhy?Wasitlinkedtothemissingpupils?WelefttheKGBinahurryandwenttoourbelovedtreehang-outspot,whichwasJ.C.’sveryown

yewtree.Assoonaswewereoutoftheshed,Ifeltalightnessinsideme.Ihadn’trealisedhowheavytheairhadbecomeintheshed.ThestrangefeelingofhavingsomeoneotherthanmyfellowstudentsandfriendsintheKGBgavemethechills.Whenwearrivedattheyewtree,theboysweresittingaroundchattingwithAbadiandBrown.Pam

andIhaddecidedtogiveBrownachance.ItwasjusttoobadthathecamewithAbadi.Luckily,Abadihad to leave, and it gaveus theopportunity to tell theotherswhat hadhappened in theKGB.Theirreaction was very unexpected for some of them; Alex and Brown wanted to go and see it forthemselves.Williamrantowardsmeandhuggedme.HewantedtomakesurethatIwasokay,justasHogandid

withScarlett.Pollard,MorganandWalkerlookedshockedandterrified,butthebestreactioncamefromHassan.

Firsthelookedstunned.Thenheburstoutlaughing,andslowlybutsurely,thethoughtoftheschoolbeingthecrimescenetravelledtohisbrain,andterrorwasallthatwasleftonhisface.ItwassogoodthatIhadtotakeapictureforfutureuse.AfterexaminingtheKGB,WilliamandHogan,againstAlex’sandmystrongobjections,decidedto

informtheheadmaster.WilliamandHogan’spositionwas thatby remainingsilent,wewouldmake the tinyGatewayHill

police force’s job even more difficult than it already was. Banking on the girls backing me up, IpresentedtheissuetothegroupandlostbecauseScarlettgavehervotetoHogan.TherewasnolongeranyquestionaboutScarlett’sfeelingstowardshim.Shehadfallenforhim,just

ashehadfallenforhertoo,andIwaspayingthepricefortheirmutualattraction.Intheend,Delphinedecided that theonlyway togoabout itwas to sendananonymous letter to theheadmaster,andweagreed.BeingthemurdermysterybuffthatIwas,Iwaspreparedforthemission.Iworegloveswhilebuying

a new ream of printing paper and envelopes, I typed the letter so that no one would match myhandwriting or the ink frommy printer, and I was still wearingmy gloves when Imailed it in thevillage.IguesswatchingColumbohadtaughtmealot.And then came the hard part:waiting for a reaction. Thewait felt like an eternity; every daywe

wouldspyontheheadmaster’soffice,andeverydayweweredisappointed.Oneweekpassed,andwesawnoconstablesintheschool.Thenasecondweekpassed,andtherewasstillnosignofaconstable.Wecouldonlydeducethattheheadmasterhadnotpassedontheinformationwehadgivenhim.He

hadprobablyassumedthatitwasajoke.Ithentookituponmyselftosendtwonewanonymousletters,one toConstableAnderson and the second one to the J.C. paper. Itworked.Twodays later,OfficerSmithandConstableAndersonwereintheschool,andmyletterwasonthefrontpageoftheJ.C.paperafewdaysafterthat.Itsaid:

Dearsir,MrsWilliamswasmurdered in a shed located inside the J. C.Maxwell school. I stronglyadvise you to have a look inside before the responsible parties clear it andwipe awayallcluesyoumighthavefoundinteresting.Afriend.

VeryquicklytheKGBwasdeemedano-gozoneforall,andpolicetapewaseverywhere,aswellasgroundkeepers,whowerestandingguardtoensurethatnostudentswereallowedin.Clearly,Iwasrightabout the identity of the hair’s owner. Theywouldn’t havemade thatmuch fuss if the hair did notbelongtoMrsWilliams.

I expected them to fingerprint every student to separate our prints from themurderer, but Tristanremindedusthatnotonlywereourprintsintheschoolarchives,sotheyalreadyhadthem,butalsoitdidnotseemlikeGatewayHillpolicewereeveninterestedinsolvingthiscrime.Theschoolgroundswerebuzzingagain;questionswereflyingfromeverybody’smouth.Whathad

shebeendoing in theschool?Hadshebeenmeetingsomeone?Howhadshegot in?Whywould themurderer have brought her into the school? Was the killer a member of the school board? Was itArnold?Wasthatthereasonhewasmissing?Wasitoneoftheteachers?Tobefair,Iwouldhavegivenanythingforthekillertohavebeenmyartteacher.And thencame the sceptics.Weshouldhaveexpected it.Theywere speculating thatwewere just

makingupstoriesbecausewewereboredofourlivesandwantedtolivethelifeofsuperheroesonTVandinourfavouritecomics,whichwasnotfarfromthetruth,exceptthatwehadfoundrealevidence.Thenextday,whenwegotup,besides the tapemarking thesceneof thecrimestillbeingvisible,

everything pretty much got back to normal. Exams were close by, so we spent most of our timestudying,butnotallofus.To everyone’s great surprise, a few days later the news announced that the victim’s husband had

passedaway.Heapparentlycommittedsuicideandhadleftanoteadmittingtothecrime.Thatdidnotmakeanysense.Notonlyhadhisalibibeenverifiedbythepolice,butheclearlydidnotcaremuchforhiswife,sowhykillhimselfwhenhewasfinallygoingtostartenjoyinglife?Orwashekilledandhisdeathdisguisedasasuicide?Thatlastpartwouldhavemadeaworldofsense.Intheend,includingArnold’sdisappearance,whichwewerenowconsideringasamurderwithouta

body,wewerelookingatthreedeadandnosuspect.WeweremorethaneverconvincedthatJ.C.wasgroundzeroforbadluck,orevenworse,theheadquartersofthegatebetweenourworldandhell.Ihadexpectedtensiontobehighintheschool,anditwas,butitwasnotbecauseofthedeadbody.ItwasalmosttimeforJCGT,andeverybody’snerveswereshattered.ScarlettandEugenie(Pollard

had nowbecome a friend, andwehad started to call herEugenie orGenie) had,with their parents’permission,movedinwithoneofEugenie’smother’sfriendsinthevillage,whichgavePam,Scarlett,Delphineandmeaplacetorehearseoursong.IfeltbadthatEugeniewasnotpartofoursinginggroup,butwhenwecreatedthegroup,shehadnotbeenafriendyet.Shehadcreatedagroupdance,however,withWalkerandMorgan,andafterwatchingthemperform,

IwasprettysurethattheyshouldhaveleftMorganout.Shewasaterribledancer,andalthoughEugenieandWalkerwerenotgreat,theycouldhavemadeittothetoptenwithouttwo-left-feetMorgan.Theboyswerealsoentering thecompetition,andsincewehadabandoned theKGBasa rehearsal

location,theyhadtakenitover.Iwasduetostudy,butcuriositygotthebetterofme,andIwenttospyonthem.William,HoganandTristanweredoingasongandachoreographytogowithit.Thesingingwasaverage,butthedancingwasamazing.Itmademewishwehadsomechoreography

togowith our song aswell, butwhen IwatchedAlex andHassanperformafter the other boyshad

gone,thatwasthehighlightoftheyear.Theyhadalsodecidedtosinganddance,anditwassobaditwasgood.Alexwasaveryprettyboy

withlonghair,sohekeptplayingwithitwhilesinging.Maybehethoughtitwouldaddsomepanachetohisperformance,butitjustmadeitworse.Alexalsohadthatdeep,manlyvoicethatmadehimsoundsosexy,butitwasnotasingingvoice.Whenhesang,itsoundedlikesomeonewasstranglinghim.Hassan’s voice, however, was pretty good. He was originally from the Democratic Republic of

Congo, and they were great singers and great dancers. My grandfather was Cameroonian, and inCameroontheysaidtherewasn’tanyonefromtheDRCthatdidnotknowhowtosing.TherewasalsoanotherthingtheysaidinCameroon,whichwasthatthepeoplefromDRC,althoughquitevain,hadtheworstsenseofstyleinAfrica.Provingthatsomestereotypesweretrue,Hassanwasagreatsinger,buthisfashionsensehadbeen

borrowed from Jerry Lewis. He also had the bad habit of copying Alex in many things, includingmannerisms, whichmeant that he was running his hand through his non-existent long hair, and theeffectwashilarious.IwaslaughingsohardIfellonthefloorandhadtorunandhidebeforetheysawme.Unfortunately,Ididnotseethetime,andIwaslatetostartmypaper,whichmeantthatwhenIcalled

Eugenie to send the car over to pickme up, because Iwas spending the night in the village, itwasalreadypretty late.Istayedandwaitedfor thecarat the librarywhilewritingmypaper,butafterwewereaskedtoleavethelibrary,thecarwasstillnotthere.Ihadtowaitattheschoolgate,buttherewasnocarcomingforme.Iwastheonlychildleftoutside

thesouthgate,besidesagirl calledNataliewhosecarwasalways late.Whenmycar finallycame, IofferedtohaveNataliedroppedatherhouse,butshedeclined.Shesaidthatshewouldratherwait;shewasconvincedthathercarwouldbearoundshortly.Iadvisedher towait inside theschool insteadofoutside. Itwaswindyandgettingcold; Ididnot

wanthertobealonewhenitgotdark,andsheagreed.Iwatchedhergoingin,andwhenthedriverandIwerereassuredthatshewasinsidetheschool,weleft.Thenextday,whenIgottoschool,Nataliewaswaitingforme.Shedraggedmetoacornerandtold

methemost importantpieceof informationneededformymother’s investigation.Shesaid thataftergetting inside the school, she had got a call from her father, asking her to meet him by the northentrance.Whileshewasonherwayup,theplacelookedentirelydeserted,butitwasn’t.Theheadmasterwas

there,andshesawhimgoinginsidetheyewtree.Thetreewasthebiggestintheschool,butstill,thestorywasprettyoutthere.Ibelievedher,though.Iknewitsoundedimpossible,butIbelievedher.Nowitwasconfirmed:J.C.wasdefinitelygroundzerofortheanomaly.Thetreewastheportalwehadbeenlookingfor,andtheheadmaster.

Itworriedmethat theheadmasterwassocarelesswithhissecret.Anyonecouldhaveseenhimgoinside that tree,and thenI realised thatNathalie’s fatherhadbeen late,and insteadofpickingherupfromthesouthentrance,whichstudentsused,shehadbeenpickedupbythenorthentrance,anentrancealmost solely used by the school staff. To top it all, it had been late. The Headmaster would haveexpectedallstudentstobeintheirdormitories,sohewouldhavehadnoreasontofearbeingseenbyanyone.IwentstraighttoPamandtoldherwhatIhaduncovered.Wecalledmymother,butIwastoldthat

Mother had gone to joinmy father, sowe had no choice but to continuewatching the tree untilwefiguredouthowtheportalworked.Wewerealsomoreconvincedthaneverthatthedeathsofthestudentshadaconnectiontotheportal.Thenextday,IcalledinameetingattheKGBandtoldtheotherswhathadhappenedbutkeptmy

mother’sinvestigationoutofit.Somethingmusthavebeeninthewaterthatday,becausetheybelievedme.Itwasnowcleartousthatthemurdererwastheheadmaster,whichexplainedwhyMrsWilliamswaskilledintheschool.Wealsohadatheoryastowhy.WeassumedthatMrsWilliamshadbeendrunk,managedsomehow

toget into the school, had seen theheadmaster go inside the tree, andhehadkilledher tokeephersilent.Choppingherbodyintopiecesandplacingheronapentagramhadbeentoconfusethepolice.We were also certain that Arnold had suffered the same fate asMrsWilliams, and for the same

reasons.MrWilliamsmust have figured outwhat had happened to hiswife, threatened to go to thepolice–maybehedemandedmoneyfromtheheadmaster–andhelosthislifeasaresult.Amanasevilastheheadmasterwasperfectlycapableofdisguisingamurderasasuicide.Summer

half-termholidaywascomingup,sowepusheditforwardtillafterwewereback.SinceScarlettandHoganhadstarteddating,wethoughtthatitwouldonlybefairthatweallstayedtogetherinLondonduringthelastholiday.

W henwegotback,wedecidedthatwecouldn’t let theheadmaster,Farage,getaway,sowemadeadecision.Wewouldtakeactionandprovokeareactionfromourheadmaster.We pretended to be going to Scarlett and Eugenie’s place but instead stayed in the

school.Theplanwassimple;wewroteananonymousletter.Intheletter,wetoldhimthatweknewhewasArnoldandtheWilliams’skiller.Wealsoaddedthatwehadevidencetoproveit.Weaskedhimtomeetus,alone,bytheyewtreeatsevenp.m.onSunday.Theproblemwasgettingtohisofficeunnoticedandslippingtheletterunderhisofficedoor.Wewere

thinkingofbribingthecaretakersohewouldopenthebuildingdoorwheretheteachers’officeswere,butinsteadwefoundthedoorunlocked,andthecaretakerwasnowheretobeseen.Sowewentupthestairs,andwhenwegottohisoffice,wefoundhimkissingoneoftheteachers.We

wereshockedbecauseweknewthattheheadmaster’swifewasoneoftheartteachersattheschool,andevenbetter,Irecognisedthewoman.Itwasmysister’steacher,theverymarriedandso-unloved-by-all-her-studentsMrsDujardin.Weweren’tsurewhattodo,andseeingthattheothershesitated,Itookoutmy phone, snapped a few pictures, grabbed the note and, after adding a little message saying “MyregardstoMrsDujardin”,putitunderthedoor,andweranaway.

ScarlettandEugenielivedclosetotheschool,whichwaswhywehadchosentheirplaceasthebaseoftheoperation,sowewenttotheirhousetoregroup.Itwasstillalongwalk,andwewereexhaustedwhenwearrived,butwedidnothavemuchchoice.Incasewehadbeenseendroppingtheletter,itwasinourbestintereststobeoutsidetheschoolwhentheletterwasfound.Ihadalottosayabouttheso-calledMrsDujardin.Besidesbeinganadultererandotherwiseknown

astheWickedWitchoftheWest,foronething,Ameliatoldmethatshewasahorriblewomanandthatallthestudentshatedher.TheicingonthecakecamefromWilliam,whotoldusthatsheusedtohavefourchildren,buttheyhadalldiedmysteriously.Apparently,shewentonholidayonedayandcamebackalonewithfourdeathcertificates.Thepolice

hadfounditsuspicious,andtherehadbeenaninvestigationlaunchedagainstherandherhusband,eventhoughhehadnotbeenwithhisfamilywhenthetragedyoccurred,buttheycouldnotproveanything,soshehadneverbeenprosecuted.However,lackofevidencedidnotmeaninnocence.Thepolicehaddiscoveredthatthechildrenhadbeenpoisoned,buttheynevercouldfindthepoison

oramotiveforthecoupletohavewantedthechildrendead.MrsDujardinwasnotrich,norwastheheadmaster,sowhatpossiblegaincouldshegetbysellingher

children’ssouls?Itmadenosense.Wehadalreadyestablishedthateverysingledeathattheschoolsofarwasforfinancialgain,exceptthelastone.Inthatcase,whatwerewemissing?Itwas getting a lotmore bizarre, so I told Scarlett to go toDraycott Place for theweekendwith

AmeliaandspendeverysecondshehadonMahlam,theYanequivalentoftheinternet.Weneededtofindoutwhatwashappening.SheagreedandtookEugeniewithher.ItoldtheboystospendtheweekendspyingonMrsDujardinwhileIwouldbespyingonMrFarage,

theheadmaster.Iforgedmymother’ssignatureandusedhercardtorentacottageinthevillageforusinorderforourinvestigationtobesmoother,anditwas;bothMrsDujardinandMrFaragelivedinthevillagewiththeirfamilies.Iwasproudofmyself.Whocouldhavethoughtthatmovingintothevillagewouldbesoconvenientforourinvestigation?Williamwasn’thappywiththedivisionoflabour.Wehaddecidedtoleavehiminschoolbecausewe

thought that in the case of a fight, him being aMasani might put him in danger. He had not beenthroughFISTlongenoughasfarasIwasconcerned,butherefused.Unfortunately,hewasacavemanandconsideredhisdutytobebymysideincaseIneededhim.He

insistedthathecamewithme,soIagreed.Actually,Iwasgrateful,butIdidn’twanttotellhimthat.ThetruthwasthatIknewitwouldbesomucheasierifIhadsupport.Theheadmasterwasaterrifyingman,andIdidn’twanttofacehimalone,butYanwomendon’tshowfear,andIwasalwayssoafraidtoshowweakness,eveninfrontofmyclosestfriends.Inthemeantime,ourrendezvouswiththeheadmasterwasthreedaysaway.Iknewthatsecretlynone

ofmyfriendswantedtohavethatmeeting,exceptforPam,whocouldn’twaittocatchtheheadmaster,

whoshehaddubbed“thepig”.The truthwas,except forHassan, Ididn’twant tomake theboysdosomethingthattheydidn’twanttodo.Mr Farage, wewere convinced, was a cold-hearted killer, and it seemed that he was not playing

about.Afterseriousconsideration,IwasabouttocallthewholethingoffwhenIhadastrokeofgenius.Irememberedthatfromthegirls’corridorthatledtothebathroom,onecouldactuallyseetheyewtree,soIaskedDelphinetospyonthetreeforme.Shewastoremainatherpostforatleastthirtyminutesandtakepicturesofanyonewhoshowedup,evenifitlookedliketheywerenearthetreebyaccident.The ideawas to reconvenewithheronMonday todiscuss the results.Wehaddecided thatuntilweknew exactlywhat the situationwas,wewould not communicate by phone in case theywere beingtapped.The firstpartof theplanwas to followMrFaragearoundGatewayHillover theweekend,buthe

surprisedus.Hewent fromhishouse to J.C., butwe lost himas soonashe entered the school.Notknowing when he was going to leave meant that we had to wait for him to show his nose. It wasincrediblyboring,draininganddifficult.Tostartwith,justtomakesurewewerenotdiscovered,wehidbehindthetreesoppositethenorthentrance.Thenwerealisedthatwehadmadeabigmistake:wewereusingourbicycles,buthewasmotorised.Itdidnottaketoolongforustorealisethattheonlytimeacarcouldbefollowedbyabicyclewasin

themovies.Bythetimewecountedtoten,hewasgone,andwehadnowayofknowingwherehehadgone.Wetriedourluckinthevillage,andfortunately,wefoundhimatthepub.Weweresohungrythatweorderedfoodatthesamepub.ThankgoodnessIhadhadthesensetobringmoney.Whilewewereeating,hegotupandleft.Allwecoulddowaswatchhimdriveoff.Weweretootired,sowedecidedtofinishourmealsandthencyclebacktotheschooltocheckifhe

wasthere,andwefoundhiscarparkedin theschoolcarpark.Wewereexhaustedandfuriousatourown stupidity. For the first time, our young age and lack of experience had put us at a seriousdisadvantageanddemonstratedtousthereasonwhyMI6didnothavefifteen-year-oldagents.Whata fiasco!Wehad losthimsomany times thathecouldhavekilled thequeenherselfandwe

wouldn’thaveknownanythingaboutit.Wewenthometired,disappointedanddefinitelydefeatedbyourenemy,anddecidedtokeepourlittlemisadventuretoourselves.Wejusttoldtheotherswhenwemetthemthathehadgonetothepubandback,butomittedtheothermoreembarrassingdetails.ThegirlswerebackbySunday, and this time theyhaddiscoveredplenty.Scarlett confirmedwhat

Hogan’sunclehadtoldhissister–thatthereseemedtobeasecretsocietywiththeabilitytobuysouls–butunlikewhatGiovanniBarthCroisethought,theywerenotmakingdealswithdemonsandthedevil.Mahlamreferencedaverypowerfulanddarkracefromaparalleluniversewhowerebeingservedby

certainhumans.Theyhadbeengivenanartefact that theyusedtosimulate thedeathofsomechosenpeoplebytheunknownentities inorderfor theirspirits tobeusedasslavesonEarthor intheirownuniverse.The so-calleddeadweredugup from theirgraves threedays afterburial andawoken.The

familymembersthathad“sold”theirlovedonesweretomakesurethatthe“dead”wereburiedandnotcremated.ThehumansservingthemwerepartofasectcalledtheFamla.Accordingtoabookwrittenbyone

formermemberoftheFamla,thefollowersandpractitionersoftheFamlaweredividedintotwogroups.Theoneswhojoinedthesectformaterialisticreasons,andtheoneswhosoughtsupernaturalpowers.Themostfrighteningpartofthesectactivitieswasthathumansacrificeswerenotstrictlyjustmeant

toenrichandbenefitpeople in thisworld.Theyalsobenefitted thepeople in theparallelworld.Theseekersofwealthorsupernaturalpowerswereasked to regularlyofferhumansacrifices.On theplusside,thesacrificeoffererhadfreerangewhenitcametothemethodofkilling.TheFamlawasanequal-opportunitieskilling-methodgroup.Themostcommonmethodofkillingusedbytheseekersoffortunewasapoisonthatmimickedthe

appearanceofdeath,onlyforthevictimtobeunburiedandtakentoworkasaslaveforthesectanditsmastersuntiltheendoftheirnaturallife.Somepeoplehadtestifiedthattheyhadseendeadlovedonesinothercountries,onlyforthepersontorunawayfromthem.Theywereapparentlybeingputtoworkinfactories,fields,evenofficesofbusinessesownedbymembersofthesect.The seekers of supernatural powers, however, had a differentway of handing over sacrifices.The

sacrificedwereofferedtotheentitiesalive,whointurnextractedtheirsouls,whichinturnwouldserveasslavesintheparallelworld.Thealiensneededthosesoulsbecausetheywereindesperateneedofmanpowerintheirownworld

inordertohelpthembuildmachinespowerfulenoughtobeabletoinvadeourworldandescapefromtheirs,whichwasdying.Theyenteredassoulsbecauseinthisworld,theycouldn’tenterintheirhumanform.Mahlamexplained that thesectchose the locationof theirchurchesverycarefully.Theareawhere

thechurchwasplantedusuallymeantthatonememberhadanumberofvictimstheyhadtargetedintheareawhotheywereplanningtogiveasanofferingtothesect.Itwassaidthatbeforeanactionmadeinthebestinterestsofthesecttookplace,themembersofthesecttargetedoneormoreneighbourhoods.Whentheirstudieswereconclusive,theyproceededtothegridandthemysticalencirclementofan

area of about seven and a half miles. Once the members of the Famla had studied and mysticallysurroundedtheareaanddetectedtheirprey,theymadealistofthenamesoftheirfuturevictimsandtheorderinwhichtheywouldbeexecuted.Thelistwascalledtheredlist,anditwaswrittenwithapenmade of the canine tooth of the Famla’s human founder. After a go-ahead from the Famla’s secretheadquarters,theattackswerelaunched.Theattacksbypoisonfortheearthlyslavesweresaidtobeofvegetableoriginandadministeredbya

memberofthevictim’sdirectentourageseekingtojointhesectbyofferingthevictimasasymbolofacookeddish.Theywouldthenproceedtounburythebodyandwakeitupbyusinganunnamedserumfromtheirfuturemasters.

Thesectdivided theirhumanvictims into threecategories: firstclass,secondclassand thirdclass.Thefirsttwowerethemostvaluable.Thefirstgroupwerepeoplewhoshonebytheirhighintelligenceortheirsupernaturalpowers,such

asChristianswiththeabilitytospeakintongues,peoplewithpremonitionpowers,peoplewiththegiftofhealingusingthesupernatural,likeprayers,orpeoplewithcharismaticgiftssostrongthattheycouldattractlargegroupstofollowthem,likecultleaders.The second class consistedof people considered intelligent, but not geniuses.However, theywere

hardworkingpeoplewhohadcomefromnothingandendedupwithhugelysuccessfulbusinesses,orpeoplewithaverageintelligencewho,throughhardwork,hadendeduptopoftheirclass.Thelastgroup,calledthethirdclass,werejustregularpeoplewithaverageintelligence.Onlythefirsttwocategorieswereofinteresttothehighestmembersofthesect.Theywerepresented

as special abilities that were of great necessity to the buyer. For example, politicians might want ahighly intelligent person with the ability to spy on their opponents, or a highly trained assassin todisposeofathreattotheircareer.Mahlam didn’t give toomuch detail on how to trap a first-class human – we already knew how

poisonwasusedfornumberstwoandthree–buthedidgiveanexampleofhowsomeonecouldjointhesectorbe tricked intogivingsomeoneasahumansacrificeafter theyhadbeenofferedaspot in thesect.Inthefirstcase,theapplicanthimselfsoughtwaysandmeanstoperformthesacrificeonhischosen

victim.Inthesecondcase,thesectchosesomeonewhohadpiquedtheirinterest.Itwassaidthattheseindividuals were usually traders whose businesses had had difficulty taking off but had a lot ofpotential,potentialthatcouldbeverybeneficialtothesect.Thatpersonwasbefriendedbyamemberofthesectwhowas in thesame lineofworkand invited themtoattendabusinessseminarwhere theymightmeetsomeinvestorswillingtoinvestintheirbusiness.Onarrival,thepersonwastheobjectofallattentionandafriendlywelcome.In order not to frighten the victims, theywere introduced to investors who assured them of their

interest, and theywere granted a loan to boost their business. The strategy aimed to better integratethemintothesectwithoutarousingtheirsuspicions.Atapromiseddate,theywereaskedtospecifytheirneedsandgrantedtheirloan,butassoonasthey

reallystartedtogetafootuptheladderofsuccess,achainofeventsmadeitimpossibleforthepersonto repay the loan on time. Generally, the person was granted an extension in cash and repaymentduration,whichallowedthemtobuymoregoods.Successwasfinallygranted,andtheywereallowedtorisetoagoodlevelandintegratethoroughly

into the organisation. However, since they had not been able to repay the loan on the agreed time,membership to the organisation was now required for the loan to be forgiven. At each meeting,organisedataspecifictimetosymbolisethemysticismofthenight,amemberhadtoofferananimal

for sacrifice. Even if the attendees found it distasteful, they were now in no position to venture anopinionandaccepteditasaneccentricityoftheirnewclub.Eventually,thechosenwasaskedtobringasacrificewiththematthenextmeeting.Whentheydid,it

was then that they foundout the truemeaningof thewordsanimalsacrifice. Itwas then revealed tothemthatananimalreferredtoabrother,asister,achild,awife,ahusband,afatheroramother–inshort,alovedone.Thenitwasalreadytoolatetoretreat.Thepersondiscoveredthatthemoneytheyhadreceivedwasmoneyfortheirlovedone’ssoul.ScarlettaddedthattheyhadreadaboutsomeplacesresistingthearrivalandinfluenceoftheFamla.

Insometargetedareas,whenapersonwassuspectedtohavebeenkilledbyamemberofthesect,theirlovedoneshadthebodyburiedafterninedayssothatthebodycouldnotbeused.Thismadeitpossibletounmaskthesectmembers,whodemandedthatthebodybeburiedassoonaspossible.Inthepast,believingthatthebodywasbeingresuscitatedbythedevil,thefamilyofthetargeted,to

besurethatthebodywouldnotbeusedbythesect,burieditwiththeeyelidsclosedwithneedlesandtearsdrawnonthem,accompaniedbyapsalmfromtheBibleoranyotherreligioustextinthepalmoftheirhands.Itwasbelievedthatindoingso,itwouldfendoffthedevilandallowangelstoaccompanythesoultoheaven.We also found out about a most sinister practice of the sect, called the feast of wizards. This

particular ceremonywas reserved for avictimconsidered first class.Thepersonmaking theofferinghadtomeanalottothatperson,whousuallywasamemberoftheirfamilyoranex-memberofthesectforwhomtheysharedstrongfeelings.Theybestowedonnewmemberstheobligation,whentheirturncame,toprovidepreyfromtheirown

family to othermembers.Thebook also added that the occult value of thememberwasmuchmoreimportantthantheirsocialposition.Therewerenodemondeals;therewasnopactwiththedevileither.Mymotherwouldbehappyto

knowthatwehadidentifiedthegroupconnectedtothealiens.IwasalsorightaboutMrsWilliamsandherhusband;thedisplayofthebodyintheforestwasmeanttomisleadtheauthoritiesawayfromtheguiltyparty’strueintentions.Itwasalottotakein,butwedid,andwenowunderstoodwhatMrsDujardingotoutofherdealwith

the Famla; she probably received supernatural powers as well asMr Farage.What their significantothersknewabouttheiraffair,whoknew?Butonethingwasnowcertain:MrsDujardinwaspartoftheFamla,andshewasverymuchathreat,andifwebelievedthestorieswrittenaboutthesect,shemighthavebeenaserialkilleraswell.

T henextday,theonlythingoccupyingmymindwasfindingDelphineanddiscoveringiftheheadmaster had come to themeetingwehad set.The thought of dealingdirectlywith cultmembersscaredmealotmorethanfightingdemons.Whilebrewingadarkcloud,Ihappened

tospotSoniaGrant,agirlfromDelphine’sfloorinthedormitories,andIrantowardsher.Iaskedher if shehadseenDelphine.She lookedveryshockedby thequestionand froze.When I

insisted,shesaid,“Wasn’tshewithyou?”NowIwas theonewith thepuzzled look.Apparently, thenightbefore, shehad run intoDelphine

while comingback from the lavatory andnoticed thatDelphine seemedvery excited.When shehadaskedherwhatwasgoingon,Delphinehadsimplyreplied,“I’lltellyoulater.IneedtospeaktoDianafirst,”anddisappearedtowardstheirstudyroom.IaskedGrantifDelphinehadaphonewithher,andsherepliedyes.Irealisedthattheplanmusthaveworked.MrFaragehadshownuptothemeetingwehadset,butI

neededdetails.Clearly,Delphinewasgoingtothestudyroomforprivacy,becausenooneusuallysatinthereaftersevenp.m.,butIwasbaffledbythefactthatshehadnotcalledme,andIwasn’tsureifshehadbeenfoundoutornot.Thestudyroomwasasmallbeigeroomfilledwithsofasofdifferentcolours

anda few lowwooden tables filledwithmagazinesandcomicbooks. Itwasmorea relaxation roomthanastudyroom.Idecidedtocheckthestudyroomjustincaseshehadleftherphoneinthere,oramessageforme.I

walkedinanditwasprettydark.Someonehaddrawnallthethick,darkcurtains.Ifounditquitestrangebecausetheywereneverdrawn.Iwalkedtothelargewindows,openedthecurtains,turnedaroundandsawonthewall,writteninbig,boldlettersandwhattoseemedtobeblood,thewords“Nicetry”.Myeyesjustglideddown,followingtheredstripleftbytherunningbloodallthewaytothefloor,

andunderneaththemessage,tomyhorror,wasthebodyofmyDelphine.Iscreamedandrantowardsher.Islippedonherbloodandstruggledtogetupwhilestillscreaming

hernameandcrying,butImanagedtogettoher.Icouldhearthedooropeningbehindmeandpeoplescreaming,butIdidn’tcare.AllIcouldseewas

Delphine’sface,herskinsopale,hereyeswideopen,andherneckopen.Ithadbeenslit.Ipulledhertowardsmeandputmyfaceinherhair.Itwasmyfault.Itwasallmyfault.Acrowdhadformedbehindme,andnoonedaredtotouchmebecauseIwasnowcoveredinblood.

That’swhenInoticedPamcryingonDelphineaswellandhuggingherlowerbody.Iextendedmyhandtowardsherandstartedtostrokeherhair.Shelookedup.Shewasalsocoveredinbloodandhadtearsalloverherface.Thenhereyesturned

cold.Forasecond,Iwasworriedthatshewasangryatme.Thensuddenlyshesaid,“Farage.”Shewasright;weknewwhowasresponsible.Icouldfeelsomeoneleaningtowardsmetograbme,

and I pushed them away and started running. I had only one place inmind:my bedroom. In FISTlessons,eventhoughtheywereatfirstgivenwithawoodensword,attheageoffourteen,girlslessonsweregivenwithrealswords,soeachofushadafewswordshiddeninourrooms,andthiswaswhatIwasgoingfor.PamandIwentinandeachpickedupaswordandheadedfortheheadmaster’soffice.Themessage

“Nice try”was him telling us that he had not fallen for our childish plan, and he hadmurdered ourbelovedfriendaspunishment.Whilewewererunningtowardstheschooladministrationbuildingwithourswordsinourhands,wemusthavelookedliketwocrazygirls,andeveryonemovedawaytoletuspass.Wewere about to climb the stairswhenwe sawhim.Hewas coming towards us andwas on his

phone.Hewasstaringatthegroundwhenhestoppedsuddenly,raisedhishead,sawusandsmiled.Hethenturnedaround,laughing,andstartedrunningtowardstheforestwithusfollowinghim.Wecouldhearsomepeoplescreaming,“Stop,guys,stop!”Thevoicessoundedfamiliar,butIwasinnomoodtoturnaround.AllIknewwasthatFaragewas

runningawayandwehadtocatchhim.Asitturnedout,hehadnointentionofrunningawaytoanever-neverlandfar,farawayatall.He

hadledustotheforest,whereheclearlyintendedtofightus.Assoonaswearrived,wesawstanding

behindhimOfficerSmithandConstableAnderson.Forsomereason,Iwasn’tevensurprised.IcouldseethatPamwas,butIwasn’tworried.Surprisedornot,PamwasthebesttrainedfighterinJ.C.Faragestartedtotakehisjacketoff,walkingfromlefttoright,smilingatus.Itmademeevenmore

angry,soIstartedtomimichim.Itwasnotwellreceived,becausehetoreoffhisshirtangrily,andhepointedaswordhehadjustpickedup,andwhichwasveryconvenientlylyingathisfeet,towardsme.“Now,who’sgoingtobefirst?”Hmmm, I thought.He ispointinghis sword towardsme.Whoelsedoesheexpect to respond?My

shadoworoneofmyinvisibleguardianangels?IturnedtoPamandsaid,“I’vegotthis.”Shenodded,agreeingwithme,andsaid,“Inthatcase,theothertwoaremine.”Iwalkedtowardshim,andhewashandedanotherswordbySmith.Ialmost laughedathim.Iwas

fifteen–notskinny,butIwasstillslim–andmybodywouldnotcomparetoamuscularmaninhismid-thirties,soIcouldn’twaittoseehisfacewhenIbroughthimtohiskneesbyusingmypowers.I raisedmy hand and squeezed, but nothing happened. Iwas shocked. I didn’t even have time to

recoverbefore therehewas,swinginghisswordatme.Hemissed. IcouldseePamrunning towardsSmithandAnderson,butIhadmyownopponenttodealwith.It took Pam probably five seconds to get Smith and Anderson on the ground. She cut Anderson

acrosshisstomachwhenhelashedather,thenslicedSmith’schestasshewascomingtowardsher.SheturnedaroundatakneelingAndersonandchoppedoffhishead,thenturnedbacktoSmithandcutherheadofftoo.Mycasewasalittlebitdifferent.Faragewasstrongandfastandalotmoredifficulttodefeatthan

expected.Iwasatrainedfighter,whichwaskeepingmealivesofar,butIclearlyneededmoretrainingtodefeathim.HeeventuallymanagedtogetmyswordtoflyawayandkickedmesohardIwentflyingtoo.Atthat

second,IknewIwasnotfightingaMasani.Hewassomethingelse,andhewasnoYan.Irantowardsmysword.IjusthadtimetopickitupbeforeFaragewasoverme,readytodecapitatemeafterditchingoneofhisswords.Indoingso,hegavemeanopeningtocutoffhisleftarm.Hescreamedandfelltothefloor,andbythetimeherealisedit,Pamwasalreadyontopofhimwith

herswordpointingathisneck.Wemadehimgetup,andIpickeduphisswordjustasIrealisedthatwewerealone.Thatwasvery

strange.Tostartwith,wherewereour friends?If Ihadheard thatHoganandWilliamhadbeenseenfollowing Farage into the woods with swords, nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, would havepreventedmefromfollowingthemandhelpingortryingtostopthem.Thesecondsurprisingthingwasthereactionoftheotherstudents.Itdidn’tmatterhowuninterested

inthingssomeonecouldbe,therewasnowaysomeofthemwouldn’thavefollowedustoseewhatwasgoingon,unlesstheyhadnotbeenabletofollowus.

WhenIvoicedmyconcernstoPam,sheagreed,andtearingupSmith’sandAnderson’sclothes,wemadearopeandtiedFarageup.Weweredecidingonhiswound,withPamwantingustobandageitandmeagainstit.AsfarasIwasconcerned,hehadkilledateenagerwithoutremorseandwouldhavekilledmetooifhecouldhave.Iwasmorethanpreparedtolethimbleedout,butDelphine’sparentsdeservedtherighttokillhimthemselves.Whileweweredebating,hestartedsmiling,andbeforeweknewit,wewereflyingacrossthefield.

Bythetimewegotup,ourmanFaragehadhisarmgluedbackon.Thatwaswhenwe knew, and it explained somuch – Faragewas aHendu.Now all the shadows

circulatingtheschoolandthevillagemadeperfectsenseallofasudden.Theywereathomeandwehadfoolishlywalkedin.PamlookedatmeandInoddedyes.AsaYan,touseyourpowerintheMasaniworldamountedto

banishmentfromYanar,butthiscasewasdifferent;wewerefacinganalienenemy.Pamraisedheropenpalm. The ground rose as well. Then she swirled both arms, and the ground wrapped itself aroundFarage.Welookedateachotherquitesatisfiedandsmiled,butbeforeweknewit,hehadfreedhimself.He

hadsomehowbrokenfreefromhistemporaryrestraints.HelookedatPamandsaid,verysatisfiedwithhimself,“So,youareaTerrayan.”TerrayanswerewhatwecalledYanswiththeearthpower.Terrayanscouldcontrolanythingthatwas

relatedtosoil,includinginthewater.TheywerebasicallyYanar’sveryownMotherNature.Hethenturnedtomeandsaid,“AndyouareanAirborn,judgingbyyourpatheticattemptearlierto

suffocateme.”Hewasright;Ihadn’tbeentrainedinhowtosuffocateaHendu,butIcouldalwayselectrocutehim

orburnhim,somethinghedidn’tknow,sincehethoughtthatIwasanAirborn,andclearly,hedidn’tknowthatPamwasadualandpossessedthefirepower.Havingnointentionofgivingmyselfawaytohim,I turnedtoPamandsaid,“Quitplayingandtie

himupalready.”Shetiedhimupwithcreepersand,toaddinsult toinjury,gatheredrocksandcreatedhisveryown

personalprison,andIcreatedawindofdirtarounditfordramaticeffect.Thewholeensemblewasquitecomicaltous,andwestartedlaughingathim.Hestartedtowrestle,

bit by bit at first, thenmore andmore strongly, but couldn’t break free.Afterwatching him gettingweakerandweaker,Icouldn’thelpbutteasehimbyadding,“Oh,comeonnow.Don’tgetdiscouraged.Haven’tyouheardofthesaying‘Ifatfirstyoudon’tsucceed,try,tryagain’?”Pam was just watching me. She shook her head and put her hands over her eyes, hiding her

embarrassmentandherblushingface.He had the nerve to point out how quickly we had recovered from Delphine’s death. He then

proceededtonarratestep-by-stephowtheyhadenjoyedwatchingherdie.Weknewthathewastrying

togetustoloseourcool,butallIheardwasthetermwe.Hewaswithsomeone.IthoughtthatIknewthatpersonwell.IlookedatPamandsheasked,“We?”Inoddedandthenshesaid,“AreyouthinkingwhatIamthinking?”Inoddedyes, so inonemove,shestuffedhismouthwithdirtandI floatedhimin theair,andwe

startedwalkingbacktowardstheschoolwithFarageandhisprisonbehindus.Hewasstillwrestling,trying toget free,whichwas reallystarting togetannoying,whilescreaming,“Airborn, setme free!Airborn!Airborn,I’llkillbothofyou,Iwill!”We ignored him, and we were taking him towards the school when we heard screaming, lots of

screaming,screamsoffearandpain.Itfeltlikeeveryoneintheschoolwascryingfortheirlife.

W estartedrunningtowardsJ.C.Whenwefinallygotthere,whatwesawwasahorror.TheYanstudentsandolderMasanistudentswerefightingagainstthevillagers.ImustsayIhada lotof respect for them.Clearly,Masaniswerenot asweakandgutless as Ihad

thought.TheGatewayHillinhabitantshadinvadedtheschoolandweretryingtokillthestudents.PamandIlookedateachotherandbothscreamed,“Thetree!”Theywereheretoopentheportal.Whatwedidn’tknowwaswhynow,andwhyattackthestudents?

Wouldn’tithavebeeneasiertocomeatnightwhennoonewasaround?Fromthewaytheywereattackingthestudents, itwasclearthatwewouldn’tgetanopportunityto

askthemanyquestions.Theydidn’tseemtobeinatalkingmoodeither.Theywerearmedwithknivesandslashingatthestudents.Somepupilshadbarricadedthemselvesin

theclassroomsandthedormitories,andwecouldseethevillagerspouringpetrolonthebuildingsandtryingtosetthemonfire.Someof thevillagersweredraggingstudentsalong thegroundwhilestabbing them.Wecouldsee

bloodeverywhere.IturnedaroundandsawFaragewithabigsmileonhisface;hehadknownthattherewouldbeanattackontheschoolthatday.Hehadplanneditandwasnowenjoyingthescene.

IwasabouttoreactwhenIheardanangryscreamcomingoutofPam’smouth.Shepulledoutherswordfromitssheathandcutoffhishead.Iexpectedtoseeitmove,butitdidn’t,andthenweknew–thewaytokillthemwastochoptheirheadsoff.Wereleasedhisbodyfromitsenclosure,leftitwhereitwasandjoinedtheotherstudents.Ithought,

Enoughwiththeprotocol.Timeforaction.Ilevitated,andwhatIsawhorrifiedme.Therewerealotmorepeoplecomingtowardsus.Icalled

outtoPamandsignalledforhertofollowmetowardsthenorthschoolgates.Whileflying,wesawthehordecomingtowardsus,andIknewthatshewouldknowexactlywhattodo.Whenwegotthere,abodywasonthefloor.Weturnedhimaround,andIsawthatitwasBrown.His

throat had been slit.We looked at each other. I couldn’t believe it, butwe didn’t even have time toprocesswhathadhappened. I just lookedatherandsaid,“Puthim inasafeplaceandseal thegate.We’lldealwiththatlater.”IflewawayandsawTristanandmysister.IaskedhertograbMabelParksRosin,aTerrayan,andfly

her to the south gate. Together theywere to elevate a soil wall pronto.When I saw that she didn’tunderstandwhy,Iturnedherheadtowardsthesouthgate,andthat’swhenshesawtheswarmcomingatus.Sheflewawaytowardsthesouthgate,andIlandedinfrontoftheboys.Ourbiggestproblemwasthat

therewereonlyfifteenYanstudentsintheschool,andinthatgroup,onlyfourweregirls,andonlytwoboys had inherited the fire power, so I had a few soldiers but barely enough captains to handle theproblem.TristanandAlexwerealreadywearingtheirInfernouniforms,soIwenttochangequicklywhilethey

werehandlingthesituationontheground.ItoldthemtosendAmeliaandPamtotheirroomtochangeaswellbecausewehadaseriousfightcomingourway.WhenIgotback,mostvillagersintheschoolwerealreadydeadortooinjuredtogetup.Theboyshaddoneabrilliantjob.Thefewvillagersthatremainedwerebeingfinishedoffbyenraged

Masanistudents.IcouldseeinWilliam’seyesthathewasnotonlyfuriousbutfrightened.Ineededtotalktohim,butIdidn’thavethetime.Tounderstandthegravityofthesituation,wegrabbedourfriendsturnbyturn,levitatedwiththemandshowedthemwhatwascoming.Theynowknewwhatwewereupagainst.Weallknewthatweneededtocallforreinforcement,but

beforedoingthat,Ineededtotalktothestudents.Notwantingtowastetime,IsentHogan,WilliamandAlextothenorthgate.Theyneededtoknowwhathadhappened.Whentheygotthere,theysawPam,whowaswaitingforme.ShetoldthemthatBrownwasdeadandthatsheknewwhohadkilledhim.Theysenthertogetchangedandsheleft,butnotbeforetellingthemthatafterelevatingthewall,she

hadlevitatedtoseehowfarthevillagerhordewasandshehadseenAbadirunningtowardsGatewayHillandnotbeingattackedbythevillagers.ShecouldonlyconcludethathewaspartoftheFamlaand

hadkilledBrownwhenBrownhadtriedtostophimfrommeltingthegatelockswithacidinordertostopanyoneshuttingthemclosedandpreventingthevillagersenteringandstartingtheirslaughter.Meanwhile,backatthemaincourt,Ilevitatedhighenoughforeveryonetoseemeinordertotalkto

them. Itwasobviousbynow toeveryone that therewereYans in the schooland thatwewerenotamyth.IshouldhavehadameetingwiththeotherYansbeforespeakingtothestudents,buttheschoolwas

inchaos,soIgainedsometimebysaying,“Listen,everybody!Obviously,wearenowofficiallyunderattackbyGatewayHill.ToanswerthequestionsIknowyouhave,letmesaveyousometime.No,Idonot knowwhy they are attacking us.Yes, I am aYan. I am actually anOmni,whichmakesme theseniorwarrioratthisschool,andyes,Idohaveaplantotakeyouhomesafely.”Thatwasablatantlie.“ButfirstIneedsomeofyoutohelpgettheinjuredsomewheretobetreated,andotherstocarrythedeadwheretheirparentscanfindthem.IwouldliketheA-levelstudentstogettogetherandorganisethosetasks,becausetherestofushaveafightonourhands.TherestofGatewayHillisatourgates,tryingtogetin.Theywanttokillusall,soanyonewhowantstostayalive,followtheordersoftheA-levelstudents,thengoandlockyourselvesinyourhousesuntilhelparrives.Therestofuswillholdoffthe villagers until then. To the A-level students, I need all of you to take charge and organise theyoungerstudents,becauseweneedyourhelp.”Theyall stood there, staring atme.Noonewas sayingany-thing.Alex andTristan flewover and

stoodnearme,andAlexsaid,“Er,Ithinktheyareinshock.”Tristanadded,“Nowwhat?”Isaidtothem,“Areyouready?”Theygavemea“readyforwhat?”lookbutstillnoddedyes,soIgatheredenergyinmyhands,then

raisedmyarmstowardsthesky,andwhileblastinglightningboltsfrommyhands,Iscreamed“NOW!”towardsthestudents,andtheystartedrunningtowardstheA-levelstudents.WhenIwasdone,AlexandTristanlookedatme,andtheysaid,“Whatwasthat?”Isaid,verycheekily,“Dramaticeffect,andasyoujustsaw,itworkedbrilliantly.”IcouldseePamandtheothersjustshakingtheirheadsandputtingtheirhandsovertheirfaces,soI

camedownandsaid,“Weneedtoregroupanddecidewhatwearegoingtodo.”Sowe all decided to go to the academics lounge to have ourmeeting; thatwaywewere surewe

wouldn’t encounter any students. We were about to leave when William said, “No offence to theInfernos,butyouguyshavechangedandareclean.Therestofusarecoveredinblood.”Thiswaswhenwe realised that everyonewas covered in dirt and blood, sowe sent anyonewho

neededachangetotheirhouseswhilewewaitedintheloungefortheacademics.Theacademicsloungewasaverylargeroommadeofleathersofasandarmchairsingroupsoffour,withsmallwoodentablesin themiddle of each group.Dimmed lightsmade it look yellowish.Thewallswere decoratedwithportraitsofpreviousacademicsandfamouslecturerswhohadvisitedtheschool.

Whenwegottotheacademics’lounge,werealisedthattherewerenostaffintheroom.Weknewthatalltheadultshadbeenkilledfirst,butwehadsecretlyhopedthatafewhadsurvived.Thatwasn’tthecase,however,anditmademeextremelysad.Iwasangry.Wedidn’tevengetthechancetomournDelphineandBrown,andwedidn’tgetachance

tomournourteachers.Ascoldasitmusthavelooked,breakingdownwasnotanoption.AfterawhilealltheYanswereback,andsowereWilliam,ScarlettandEugenie.Shehadmadesure

thatMorganandWalkerwereintheirrooms,andtomysurprise,GreenandHaggertywerethere.I asked them what they were doing here, and they said that they would explain, but they asked

everybodytositdown.Emilyjustjumpedstraightintotheirreasonforbeingthereandsaid,“Didyougetourmessage?”Ithought,What?Andthenshesaid,“Weweretheonesbehindthebraceletlogo.Wehavebeenwatchingyouandthe

otherseversinceyougothere.”Scottwenton toexplain that theywere theproductofunionsbetweenHendusandMasanis.They

were called theHamaciel. This I did not expect. The revelationwas shocking, but Iwas evenmoresurprisedwhenScottaskedthattheonlyonestolistentotherestoftheirnarrativebechildrenofthegeneralcouncilmembers,thewarcouncilandthecouncilofinterioraffairs.Yanarmightbeameritocracyonpaper,butinreality,itwasruledbythefirsttenfamilieswhohad

createdournationcenturiesago.WewerecalledtheTen,andtheyweremyfamily,theKorsnings,whoweredescendantsof thekingdomofSweden, theWus,whoweredescendantsof theChineseempire,theOpiopios,whoweredescendantsoftheKingdomofHawai’i,theCroises,whoweredescendantsoftheGreekEmpire,theAltkaseis,whoweredescendantsoftheInuit,theBoubas,whoweredescendantsof the Fula in Africa, the Kirkpatricks, who were descendants of the Kingdom of Scotland, theMacConraois, whowere descendants of theKingdom ofMunster, the Rafnkells, descendants of theNorseGreenlanders,andtheBarths,descendantsoftheRomanEmpire.The war council was ruled by Hawaou Bouba, Elspeth MacConraoi, Caoimhe Kirkpatrick, Alva

KorsningandEvaWu,andthecouncilofinterioraffairswasruledbyFreydisRafnkell,DinahBarth,NuvuaAltkasei,JulianaCroiseandAoifeKirkpatrick.AtJ.C.wewerelimitedwithourcouncilmembers’offspring,butwehadastronggroupofYans.The

youngestYansintheschoolwereAmeliaandMabel,onlyfourteenyearsold,butbesidesthemwehadHassan,Hogan,Tristan,Alex,Pam,andme.AllotherYanswerepreparingfortheirA-levels.ScottandEmilytoldusthattheirkindhadbeenrejectedbytheHenducommunitybecauseHendus

werenotallowedtoreproducewithhumans,somixedcoupleswereforcedtopartwayswiththeHenducommunityandforgetheirown.TheyhadadaptedwelltotheMasaniworldbecausetheycouldeasilyblendinwiththepsychicworld.Theydidnothaveotherpowersexceptforthegiftofpremonition,andtheYanarcouncilswereawareofthem.DelphinewasanHamacielaswellandhadbeenspyingonMr

Faragenotbecauseshewassuspiciousofhim–shealreadyknewthathewasaHendu–butbecausesomeonefromtheHenduroyalfamilyhadarrivedonEarthandwaslivinginGatewayHill.Beingpsychics, theyhadtheability tosensewhenapersonwasaHendu,anditgotevenstronger

when it was a member of the royal family. The royal family was able to mask their energy fromHamaciels,buttheycouldnotmaskthechangeintheaurasurroundingavillageoraneighbourhoodofalargecity.Hamacielswerealsoabletoseethedifferentcoloursofeachplace.Theyexplainedthatthecoloursgotdarkeranddarkerdependingonthelevelofevillivinginthearea.Ithought,Boy,IwonderwhatcolourColdharbourLaneis,sinceEloiseislivingthere.Eloisewasan

enemyofminewhohappenedtoliveinoneoftheworststreetsinLondon.FromwhatScottandEmilysaid,GatewayHillwasverydark,withstripesofcolourhereandthere

thatcouldonlyhappenwhenamemberoftheHenduroyalfamilywaslivingnearaportalbetweenourtwoworlds.Thelevelofdarknessandtheintensityofthecolourssurroundingtheschoolsuggestedthattheportalwasontheschoolproperty,buttheyhadnotbeenabletodeterminewhere.TheyexpectedustobewellversedintheHenduinsandouts,butweweren’t,andthedisappointment

ontheirfaceswasobvious.Emilystoodstraightupandtoldus,“Ihavetoadmit,Iexpectedyoutobealotsmarterthanyouare.”Iwas shocked.We all started protesting, andwe remindedher thatwehad the highest IQs in the

school and probably the whole county, and she replied, “Yes, you are all very intelligent, but notstreetwiseandwitty,andyouneedtobeifyouexpecttodefeattheroyalinGatewayHill.”At thatmoment, the only thing Iwas interested in defeatingwas her smug face.Hassan had had

enough,gotupandsaid,“Hey,ifyoucameheretoinsultus,thenoutofmyway.Bytheway,Iamnottheonebelievinginanimaginaryentity.Aren’tyousupposedtobethebiblepushersoftheschool,ontopofbeinghalfalien?”That brought a smile to my face. I almost kissed him. He was right; they were the school bible

pushers,andtheyhadthenervetocriticiseus.Emilyagreedthatshehadbeenalittlebitblunt,buttimewasoftheessence,assheputit.SheaskedHassantositdownandsaidthattherewasmoreforustoknow.She explained that theHenduswere divided into three categories. The Firas lived in the sky and

couldnottakehumanform,socouldonlybeseenasshadows.Theywereoftenmistakenasghostsbyhumans.ThenthereweretheYahas,wholivedonland.TheYahaswerewitchesandwarlocks,andtheirpowerscamefromincantationsandpotions.Andlastbutnotleast,theYinas,wholivedunderwaterandwereacolonyofmermaids.WewereprettyawareaboutthedifferentbranchesoftheHendus,butithadmostlybeentakenbyus

tobeanurbanlegend,soitturnedoutwehadbeenwrong.WilliamthenaskedthemifFreedomChurchwastheircommunitycover,towhichEmilyrepliedno.

ItturnedouttheHamacielcommunityhadbeenreachingouttodifferentreligiouscommunities,asking

themforhelptowarnthepublicincaseofaninvasion,buttheyhadbeenmetwithsuspicion,rejection,sometimesevenattacked,andtheyhadhadtoleavetheareaswheretheyhadbeenliving.TheyeventuallyrelocatedinHereford,wheretheyjoinedFreedomChurch,andafterbeingpartofthe

churchforawhile,theyopeneduptotheirpastor,andhisresponsewassimply“Howcanwehelp?”The church has been part of the fight ever since. They have reached out to other churches and

religiousinstitutions,whohadalsojoinedthefight,andtheywereallpreparedtolendahandanytimetheywerecalledupon.IneededtomakethemawareofwhathadhappenedwhenIhadtakenonaHendu,soIgotupand

tookEmily’splaceandnarratedmyfightwithFarage.Ialsoadded,“Faragealmostbeatme.ThechokemovedoesnotworkonHendus,sowhenyouareconfrontingthem,donotattackasifyouwerefacingaMasani.Useyourfullpower.Donotholdback,orexpecttoendupinabodybagandonyourwaytoValhalla.DoImakemyselfclear?”Asusual,theyweregiggling,andthenHassansaid,“Wait,wait,wait.Tostartwith,IamnotaNorse,

andevenifIwas,thereisnowayIwouldeveragreetogotoValhalla.WhowantstodieonlytoendupasanothersoldierinOdin’sarmy?Hellno.”Andeveryonestartedlaughing.I rolledmyeyes andwasabout to scoldhimwhenHoganadded, “I agree. I’monmyway to the

ElysianFieldsandno-whereelse,sister.”At that moment, I seriously considered blasting them with a lightning bolt, but then Tristan

intervenedandsaid,“Enough.Ifyoucan’ttakeitseriously,thenIsuggestyourunbacktoYanarpronto,becauseonewayoranother,weareabouttogetintothefightofourlives,andanyinsightfromtheonlyonewhohasfacedaHenduincombatisamust,soshutupandlistentoher.”The smile onmy face was so big youwould have thought that I was the Cheshire Cat.William

protested.Hehadnointentionoflettingmefightwithanyoneandwasproposingthatwesittightandwaitforthepolicetoarrive,andobvious-ly,Scott,Emily,EugenieandScarlettagreedwithhim,buttheYansdisagreedandsidedwithme.

W eremindedournon-YanfriendsthatwhathadjusthappenedwasonlythebeginningandthatJ.C.wouldfallbeforetheauthoritiesarrived.Wewereinthemiddleofourheatedargumentwhenwestartedhearinggunshots.Weranoutsidetofindoutwhatwasgoing

on.Thecourtyardwaspackedwithstudentswhohadalsoheardthegunfireandhadcomeouttocheckit

out.AssoonastheMasanistudentssawus,theystartedyelling,“Whatareyouwaitingfor?Flyawayandtelluswhat’sgoingon.”I lookedatAmelia,Pam,TristanandAlex, andwenoddedat eachother and flew to takeapeek.

Whatwesawwasunimaginable.Ahordeofpeoplewereattackingthepoliceandthemilitary.Wedidn’tknowwhythemilitarywasthere,butitwas,anditwasbeingattacked.Thehorde looked like zombies,with foamydrool comingout of theirmouths and red eyes.They

weredirtyfromtoptobottomandholdinggardeningtools,andtheywerelaunchingthemselvesatthepoliceandthemilitary.ThelasttimeIhadseensomethinglikethiswasinDawnoftheDead.I couldonlyassume that theywerenotof soundmind,because thepeople theywere launchingat

werenotyourregular,run-of-the-millpoliceofficers; theywereauthorisedfirearmsofficers,andthey

hadsoldierswiththem,butthatdidnotseemtofazethemobatall.Icouldseefromfarawaythatmoremilitaryvehicleswerecoming.Itlookedlikeawarzone.Theseofficersandsoldiershadnoideawhattheywerewalkinginto,andtheymighthavebeenmassacredbynowhadtheynotbeenarmed.Iturnedtotheothersandsaid,“Wehavetohelpthem.”The look they gavemewas of disbelief, but they could clearly see that Tristan, Pam and I were

determined,anditwasobviousthatwithoutourhelpitwouldbeaslaughter,sotheynoddedyes.ThenAmeliasaid,“Whatabouttheothers?Theyarewaitingfornewsfromus,andifwedon’tcomeback,theywillbeworried.”Iagreed,soIsentAmeliatogoandrelatetotheotherswhatwasgoingon,anditwasdecidedthat

the rest of uswouldbe flying to lend a hand to the police, but thenwe sawa squadronof shadowscomingtowardsus.Theywerefaraway,butweknewitwasthem,andweknewthattheywereinattackmode,becausetheyhadmadethemselvesvisibletotheMasanisaswell.Weheardachantcoming from thevillagers.They startedkneelingandchanting, “Fira,Fira,Fira,

Fira.”Thesoldiersandtheofficersreallylookedscared,soIturnedtoPamandsaid,“FindAmeliaandtell

her to getMabel, quick. Things just got serious.When you get back, I want a shield around theseguys—”Ipointedtothefirstgroupofsoldiersandofficers—“andthoseguys.”Ipointedtowardsthemilitaryvehiclesthathadjustarrived.“Quickly.”Shenoddedandflewaway.IturnedbacktotheFiras.Theylookedlikeadarkseacomingatus.It

remindedmeofTheEvilDead,whenAshisrelievedtoseethesunout,andthedemondarkenedtheskytoturnitintonight-timeagain.TheFirasweredoingtheexactsamethingtous.IsentAlexandTristantogoandtalktothefirstgroupofMasanisoldiers,whileIwenttothesecond

group.Theyhadcomeoutoftheir trucksandwereterrifiedtoseemeatfirstbutcalmeddownwhentheyrealisedthatIwasonlyateenager.IbrieflyexplainedwhoIwas,butImadeitcleartothemthattheFiraswerecomingtokillallofus

and explained to them who they were up against. They revealed that they already knew about theinvasionbutthattheyhadneverfacedtheFirasbefore.Ithoughttomyself,Youandmeboth,brothersandsisters.TheirleaderintroducedhimselfasMajorPaulMcNamara.HewasaskingwhatIcouldpossiblydo

forhimwhenAmeliadroppedMabelnearusandflewaway.Theylookedpuzzled,andhesaid,“Whatdoyouthinkyou’redoing?Whatisthatkiddoinghere?”Heseemedreallyangry,soIsaidwiththesametonehetooktotalktome,“Thatkid,asyouputit,is

here toprotectyouwhilemy friends and I are fighting theFiras to saveyour lives, so a littlebit ofappreciationwouldgoalongway.”Hesaid,“What?Iforbidyoutofightanyone.Pickupthatchildandleaverightnow.”Thenhepulled

outhisweaponandtoldhisteamtogetready.

Clearly, talking to thatmanwas awasteofmyprecious time, so I askedMabel,“A taskitty na?”whichmeant“Areyouready?”Andshesaidyes,soIflewoverherandsaid,“Begin.”MajorMcNamara,realisingthatIwasdoingsomething,screamed,“No,Diana!No!Comebackhere!

No!”Hisvoicesoundedpanicked,butitwastoolate.AmeliaandMabelhaderectedashieldaroundthe

soldiers to protect them from the Firas. In order to do that, they had to kneel and concentrate theirenergypower to theground,which erected abubble-like energy shield around them. It took a lot ofstrengthtomaintainitforlong,andAmeliaandMabel’syoungagemeantthattheywouldnotbeabletoholdtheshieldforlong,solosingthebattlewasnooptionforus.Ontheotherside,theboysfacedthesameproblem.Theyhoveredoverthepolice.Thefightdown

therewas over, and the officerswere staring at themwith disbelief. They eventually dived down toexplainthesituationtothem,andastypicalMasanis,theypointedtheirweaponsatthem.Theyexplainedbrieflywhotheywereandshowedthemwhatwascoming.Theyadvisedthemtoget

backtotheircarsandprotectthemselves,buttheydidnotdoit.Luckilyforthem,theboysleftAmeliatoerecttheshieldwhilePamwasleftoutsidethefirstbubbletofendoffanyonetryingtoland.ThenTristanandAlexcameandjoinedmetofacetheFiras.Theystoodstillandthenmadeaface,asiftryingtoscareuswastheirintention.ThenIhadtoadmit

itworkedbrilliantly;Iwasveryclosetorunningaway.Wehaddecided towait for themtoattackus,sowhilewewerewaiting,Alexaskedus,“Anylast

words?”I turned to him and said, “I can’t believe that I’m going tomiss theReal Housewives of Atlanta

reunion.”Theyburstoutlaughing,andtheirlaughwassocontagiousthatIwaslaughingaswell.ThenAlexturnedtousandsaid,“Look,ifIdon’tmakeit,andyouguysdo,pleasetellmyfamily

thatIlovethem,andtellLanithatIamcrazyaboutherandthatsheistheloveofmylife.”Weturnedtowardshimindisbelief.“What?”saidTristan.“YouandLanitogether?Sincewhen?”Hesmiledandsaid,“Wouldn’tyouliketoknow.”NowIknewthatIhadtomakeit.Thatgossipwassojuicythatnotbeingabletospreaditanywhere

wasalmostillegal,butitlookedlikeTristanhadanevenjuicierpieceofgossipforus.Hesmiledandsaid,“Well,justincaseIdon’tmakeit,MarkandIbrokeupbecauseIcheatedonhim.Ikissedanotherguy.”Wemumbled,“What?”Just then theFiras started tomove towards us;wewere close enough to them for us to feel their

energy.Thejigwasup.Wewereabouttofight.“Howdoyouwanttodothis?”theboyssaid.

“Thetwoofyou,makeasky-highwalloffirebehindPam.Noonepasses,”Isaid.“Whataboutyou?”theyasked.“I’llbreaktheirrankswithballsofenergy.I’llelectrocutethem.Makesurethefiredoesnotgoout,

becauseit’sabouttorain.”IwasabouttoleavewhenIturnedtolookatthemoncemoreandsaid,justincase,“Donotbreak

ranks,nomatterwhat.I’mserious.”AlexmadeamovetowardsmeandIstoppedhim.“Nomatterwhat,”Iadded,andhepulledback.IturnedtoTristanandhenodded,andIflewhigher,lookedupattheskyandraisedmyarmsup.As

soonastheFirassawmecallingonThor,theyknewwhatIwasabouttodo,andtheyattacked.Theystarteddescendingonus,andInoticedthattheywerenotarmed.Irealisedthattheycouldn’t

holdsolidinstruments.Theskyturnedgreyandthunderstarted.IknewThorhadheardme,andIdivedintothemiddleofthembyturningintoaflaminghumantwisterandstartedthrowingballsofelectricityatthem.Ikeptthrowingenergyballsatthemandburningthem,buttherewerejusttoomanyofthem.Itfelt

likeforever,andtheywerenotbackingdown,butmystrengthwasdiminishing,andsowasthestrengthofmyballs.Notlongafterthat,theystartedsuffocatingme.Thefeelingwasunusual.Itwasn’tlikeholdingyourbreath.Itfeltliketheywereinsidemybodyand

wereextractinganyoxygeninsideme.Thepainwasexcruciating,andallIcouldthinkaboutwasthatIwouldneverseeWilliamandmyfamilyagain.Thenragetookover.Ibecamesoangry.Iwasnotabouttodiethatday,norwouldIletanyofmy

friendsdieeither.Ijustburstintoflame,andtheystartedscreaminginpain.Theywereburning.Iturnedtowards theboys,anddespite thewalloffire, Icouldsee them,andInoticed that theywere lookingveryworried.Theirwalloffirewasholding,butIcouldseeAlexmakingamovetocomeandhelpme,soImade

thestophandgesture.Thewalloffirehadtoholdnomatterwhat.Icouldseehimstrugglingtoobeyme,butthenIsawTristanyellingsomethingathim.Heseemedtoremindhimwhatwasatstakeifhebrokethewall.MystrengthwasevenmorediminishedthanIthought,becausebeingflamedandflyingamongthem

andburningthemdidnotlastlong.BeforeIknewit,myfirewassoweakthattheFiraswereabletosurroundmeandsmotherme.Istartedtoscuffledesperately,andIheardtheboysscreaming,“Shield,Diana!Shield,please,Diana!Shield!Shield,please!”Itgavemecourage,andsoIdid.Iblastedanenergyspherearoundmetogivemetimetobreatheand

recover.TheFirasweretryingtopenetratethesphere,buttheycouldn’t.Iknewthatitwouldn’tholdforlong;manoeuvringpowers for a long time and at the same time takes a lot of training, and I hadn’tlearnedhowtodoeitherwellyet.

ButIwasn’ttheonlyoneintrouble.AmeliaandMabel’sshieldswerewearingoffaswell;theyweregettingtired.Fromthebeginningofthefight, theFirashaddividedthemselvesintofourgroups.Onegroup dealt with me, another descended on Mabel’s bubble, the third one descended on Amelia’sbubble,andthelastonetriedtogothroughTristanandAlex’swall.Pamhadjoinedtheboysandhadmadearockserpentthatwentthroughthewalloffire, turningit

intolavaandburningnotonlytheFirasattackingthewallbuttheonesattackingthesoldiers.AmeliaandMabelweregettingweaker.TheweightoftheFirasaswellasthelavawasgettingtobe

too much, and the soldiers had to carry them because they couldn’t kneel any longer. They werebeggingthemtoletgo,promisingthattheywouldbeokay,butthegirlsknewthatiftheydid,thentheywouldalldie.Pamnoticedthatthegirlswerenolongersupportingtheirownweight,andhadstoppedwiththelava,buttheFiraswerestillattackingthebubbles.Allseemedlostwhensuddenlywesawblazesoffirecomingfromallover.Ihadbeendescending

slowlybutsurely,soIlookedup,andthat’swhenIsawthem:afullsquadronofInfernosandAirbornsholdingflamingswords,throwingblazesoffire,attackingtheFiras.Helphadfinallyarrived.We almost criedwith joywhenwe saw them. I was so tired that I fainted, but Alex and Tristan

droppedthewallandcaughtmebeforeIcouldreachtheground.AmeliaandMabelhadfaintedaswellandwerebeingcarriedbythesoldiers.Pam jumped onAlex, and they huggedwhile the Firaswere being defeated.We came down, and

TristanhelpedmetositonthefloorbecauseIwasdizzy.Thepoliceandthesoldiershadrecoveredtheirfreedomofmovementafterthebubblesdisappeared.Thesquadronleaderwascomingdown,andtheboysrealisedthatitwasmycousinJaimieAltkasei

Bouba.TheyweresohappytoseeJaythattheyscreamedwithjoyandrantowardsher.Sheaskedwhathadhappened,andaftertheyhadexplained,sherantowardsAmeliaandMabel,whohadbeenplacednexttomebythesoldiers.

T hecaptainwhohadbeencarryingAmelia introducedhimselfasCaptainGerardO’Connor,and the major also introduced himself to Jay. In exchange, Jay introduced herself andinformedthemthatshewasthesquadronleader.ThensheintroducedFlightLieutenantLucca

PeliniDiallo.ShewasaSenegalese-ItalianAirbornwhohadnowalsoreceivedthefirepowersinceitsappearanceearlierwithinYanscarryingthefiregene,whichmadeheradual.Alsowith themwasFlyingOfficerLuluChikelu. Itwasobvious that theywere surprised to seea

squadronmade entirely of women, and evenmore surprisingwas how young the squadron fighterswere.Jaywastwenty-four,Luccawastwenty-three,andLuluwastwenty-six,butthesquadronfighterages

rangedbetweensixteenandthirty.Asoldermen,themajorbeingforty-oneandthecaptainbeingthirty-three,theyhadabitofaproblemdealingwithyoungerofficerswhowereessentiallythesamerankasthem.IrealisedthatJaywasnotsupposedtobeinSurreywithme.Sowhywasshehere?Jaywasfromthe

AfricansideofthefamilyandwouldneverleaveAfricaunlessitwastogotoYanar,sowhywassheintheUK?

Wecouldn’twait anymore, sowe askedher the reason for herpresencehere, and she said, “Thecouncilhasrecalledalloff-landYans.TheHendushaveofficiallystartedtheinvasionofEarth,andwearetoallreturnhomeimmediately.”Ididn’tknowwhattosay.Iwasshocked.Ifthecouncilwasworriedenoughtocallusback,thatonly

meantonething:theywerestayingoutofthefightandwouldallowtheMasaniworldtobeconquered.Thatalsoexplained themilitarypresence.Theywereawareof the invasion,and itwasclear that theBritishgovernmenthaddecidedtofightratherthancometoanagreementwiththeHendus.MajorMcNamaraandCaptainO’Connortookthesquadronofficersasideandexplainedtothemthat

the government had very little information about the Hendus and that they were flying blind. Ioverheardthem,soIcutintotheirconversation,andItoldthemthatatJ.C.,notonlydidweknowalotabouttheHendus,butwehadbattledagainstthemandknewtheirfightingstyle.Tomysurprise,Jay’ssquadronalreadyhadalltheinformationtheyneededfromthewarcouncil,and

alltheywantedfromuswastopackourbelongingsandmakeourwaytoYanar.Isaid,“Ohhhh,”andthemajor,whoIthinkhatedchildren,toldJay,“Thesekidshavesavedourlives,

andweareverygrateful,butdoyouevenknowthe feelingofwatching these littlegirlsgiving theirlivesforus?Mymenalmosthadmyheadforit.Theyaretrainedtoprotectchildren,notbeprotectedbythem,”hesaid.“Sorry,butYanornoYan,Iwantthemallgone,andgonetoday,”headded.Jaysmiledandsaid,“Doyouknowhowoldtheyare?”Theybothsighedandsaid,“Goon,tellus.”Soshesaid,“Diana,mycousin,isfifteen,andAmelia,myothercousin,isfourteen.”CaptainO’Connorjustshookhisheadno,andsheadded,“Major,Mabel,whoshieldedyou,isalso

fourteen,andthetwoboysyouforgottothankarebothsixteen.”Themajorturnedredandapologised.Hesaid,“DonotthinkthatIforgotaboutthem,butwatching

Mabelwasjustexcruciating.Pleasesendthemhometotheirparents.Wewillpersonallyvisitthemafterwearedonehere,tothankthemfortheirhelp.”Shesmiledandsaid,“I’lldomybest.”Obviously,wewerelisteningtothem,buttheyclearlydidn’tcare,andneitherdidwe.Asfaraswe

were concerned, themajor and the captainwere just jealous of us, sowe all agreed to ignore thoseungrateful grumpyold bags andgoback to J.C.We flewawaywithPamandMabelwithout sayinggoodbyeandreturnedtoschool.Soonafter,Jayandhersquadronarrivedwiththepoliceandthesoldiers.Theyfoundmoststudents

withtheirbagspacked.Iwasnotsurprisedtoseethat,butwhatsurprisedmewasthatthepolicehadcalledforvanstopickupthestudentsandtakethemhome,oratleasttothenearesttrainstation.While Amelia and I were filling Jay in with what had occurred in the school, ambulances were

arrivingaswell,andIbreathedasighofrelief;theycouldtakeawaytheothers,especiallythedead,andcleartheschooloftheyoungonesandthewounded.

Whentheofficersandthesoldierscameoutoftheircars,theotherstudents,whowerestillintheirhousesandscaredfortheirlives,realisedthattheynotonlyhadalargenumberofarmedofficersbutalsoalargenumberofsoldierswhohadcometohelp.Thestudentsmusthavebeenaveryscarypicture,because the officers jumped when everyone, with their bags in hand, started coming out of thebuildings,runningtowardsthem,crying,screamingandtalkingatthesametime.Theywerejumpingontheofficersandthesoldiers.Eachhadastorytotell,andtheyweresorelieved

toseetheauthoritiesandadultsaround.Ihadtoadmitwewerehurt,reallyhurt.Theseguyshaddonenothingtoprotectthem.Withoutus,the

schoolwouldbeagraveyard,andthepoliceandthemilitarywouldbeontheirwaytoFólkvangr.Incidentally,noneofthemcameandthankedus.Wejuststoodtherelookingatthem,asifitwasa

movie, and then I knew. It was time to go home. I would let the others know that, after we hadguaranteedthatourfriendsweresafe.Therestoftheschool,asfarasIwasconcerned,couldgotohell.That would teach them that when people put their lives in danger to protect and save them, thosewarriorsdeserveatleastathankyou.Thepoliceputthestudentsfromkeystagesthreeandfouronbuses,aswellastheinjuredstudents,

andsentthemtoGuildfordunderescort,sowewereleftwiththesixth-formstudentsonly.Theyalsohadsentordersforthebodiestoberemoved,andIgottowatchDelphineasshewasmakingherlastjourneyhome.Wefinallyfoundourfriendsattheboys’houselivingroom,wheresomeofthemhadbeenwaiting

forustoexplainwhathadhappenedtoDelphine.TheyhadalreadybeenfilledinbyPamaboutBrown’sdeath,soIstartedtoexplainhowsomeofushadsentDelphinetospyonMrFarage,notknowingthatshealreadyhadherowninvestigationunderway.Ihadcometotheconclusionthat,hadIknownthatshewasalreadyinvestigatinghim,Iwouldnothavesenttheanonymouslettertohimandaskedhertowatch his response to the letter.My fear was that she had been killed because the letter confirmedsuspicionshemusthavehadregardingherspyingonhim.As soon as I said that, William started yelling at me. He was already furious about what had

happenedon thebattlefield,becauseAlexhadbeen foolishenough to tell theboys indetailhow thefighthadgone.Ihadneverseenhimsoangrybefore.Hewasfuriousatme.Hisfacehadturnedred.Hedidn’tseemtonoticethateveryonewasstaringatus.He started ranting that itwas typicalofme tomake rashdecisions that in turnendedupaffecting

everyonewholovedmeandcaredaboutme.Hewasright,ofcourse.William’ssenseofresponsibilitywasveryuncommonforsomeonehisage,anditdidgetonournervessometimes,butmorethanonce,ithadalsosavedusfromalotoftrouble.ButIwastoohurttotellhimthathewasright,andfelttooguiltyaboutwhatIhaddonetofaceupto

mymistake, so I just sat therewith ablank lookonmy face. I couldhear sounds aroundme. Iwasnumb.ItwasasifIhadleftmybodyandwaslisteningtoaconversationcoveredbystatic.

Whentheboyyoulovelooksatyouasifyouaresomethinghorrid,somethingtheywishedtheyhadnevermet,itmakesyoufeelsmallandunwanted.Icouldseehisbeautifullipsmoving,butinsteadofasmilewasanangrytremble.Thensuddenlymyheartstartedaching,asifsomeonewasslashingitoverandover.Tearsstartedto

rundownmycheeks.Iwantedtotalk,butmylipsweretremblingtoomuch.Icouldseeblursaroundme,butIcouldn’tmakeouttheirfaces.TheonlyfaceIcouldseeclearlywasWilliam’s,anditlookedlikeitwasfilledwithhatetowardsme.Mysurroundingsstartedtospin,andIcouldn’tseeorhearanymore.AllIknewwasthatIhadtoget

outofthatroom,soIdashedoutandranasfastasIcould,andbeforeIknewit,Iwasflying.IflewasfarasIcoulduntilitstartedraining,andthenIlandedonameadow.Isatonthegrassandstartedcryingoverandoveragain.Firsttheauthorities,thenthestudents,andnowmyownboyfriend.Ihadreallyhadenough.IwantedtogobacktoYanara.Iwantedtobehome.WhileIwasbusywithmybrokenheart,myfriendssentAlexafterme.IwastoldlaterthatWilliam

hadwantedtocometoo,butAlexwastooinexperiencedwithhispowersnot toburnhimwhiletheywereflying.However,hepromisednottostoplookingformeuntildusk.Whentheothersreturnedtothelivingroom,EmilyinformedthemthatshehadfoundMrFarage’s

diary in his office. In it was a detailed explanation on how they had killed a stu-dent just after aninteractionwithme.Apparently, the student, who was a member of the Famla, had been sent by Farage to spy on

Delphine,andthatstudenthadcometosuspectthatDelphinehaddiscoveredtheidentityoftheroyalandhadtakenaphotoasevidence.ShehadbeenaskedtogothroughDelphine’sbelongingsandfoundafewexchangesbetweenmeandDelphine,andafewphotosthatshehadsentme.Apparently,thephotosscaredthemenoughthattheyinstructedthestudenttoretrieveallthephotos

that Ihad received, including theonewith the royal in it, anddisposeofDelphine.The studentwasunsuccessful in both cases, so they had no choice but to kill Delphine themselves, but not beforeeliminatingthestudent.FaragehaddecidedshehadfailedtheFamla,whenshewenthomeforsummerhalf-term,bysendingakillerflyhehadusedpreviouslytopoisonher.Farage’sactionswereadirectresultofournaivety.Weshouldhavebeenmorecareful,becausethey

clearlyhadstartedtosuspectus,anddespitethatfact,wehadstillactedwithoutthinking.Weshouldhavebeenmore suspicious of our peers. Ifwehad considered the possibility that someof our peerscouldhavebeenmembersof theFamla,wecouldhavepreventedanyonebeingkilled,bynotraisingFarage’ssuspicions.ThejournaldidnotmentionthefactthatwewereYans,atleastnotuntilwegotbackfromsummer

half-term,whichmeant thatDelphine’sphotoswerewhatreallymadethemverynervous.Duetoourage,weshouldn’thavebeenathreattothem,andyetwehadbeenunderconstantsurveillancebythem,andnowweweredroppinglikeflies.

IfinallywentbacktoJ.C.IsawAlexapproaching;hehadbeensearchingformeandwasrelievedtoseemeinonepiece.HetoldmethattheotherswereinconferencewithEmily.HecouldseethatIwasfeelingbeaten.Hehuggedmeandsaid,“Nottoolong.Bytonightwewillbegone,butfornowsome-oneisveryanxioustoseeyou.”Whenwegottothehouse,Istillhadn’tspokentoWilliam,andIwasworriedabouthowthesituation

wouldunfold.Luckily, everybodywashungry, sowewent to thekitchenand raided it. It turnedouttherewasalotoffood,andIwasinheaven,enjoyingmysandwich,whenashadowstartedhoveringoverme.Ididn’twanttolookup,butIhadto,soIdid,andtherewasWilliam,standing,staringatme.MytreacherousfriendsmovedawayandgaveusthespaceIhadneveraskedfor.Williamwasstaring

atme,andIdidnotknowhowtoreact.Hegavemehishandandsaid,“Comewithme,please.”TherewasnowayIwasgoingtosayno.Itookhishandandwestartedwalking.Heaskedmewhere

wecouldgoandtalkinprivate,andItookhimtomyroom.AssoonasIhadclosedthedoor,heheldmeinhisarmsandapologised.“Iamsosorry,”hesaid,puttinghisforeheadonmine.“Iamso,sosorry.Ididn’tmeantoupsetyou.I

loveyousomuch.IfonlyyouknewhowmuchIloveyou.”Hesighedandsaid,“Youaregreat,butatthesametime,Iwantyoutothinkoftheconsequencesofyouractions.YouwererightaboutFarage,and I agreewith you that knowingmore about himwas important, but at the same time, if youhadasked for my opinion before involving Delphine, who was clearly not equipped to defend herselfagainstabiggerandstrongeradversary,Iwouldhaveadvisedagainstit.I justwantyoutorememberthatIamyourboyfriend.Weareateam,sopleasetrustmealittleandcometomebeforemakinganydangerousmoves.”Hewasright;Ishouldhavegottenasecondopinion.Iagreedwithhim,andIapologisedtohimfor

my tantrum.He then finallykissedme, and Iwas inheavenonce againwhen thedoor swungopen,hittingusintheprocess.ItwasJaycomingtowardsus.Shesaid,“Well,itlooksliketheFamla,ontopofbeingaHendu-run

murderousgroupandacult,isnowinthekidnappingbusiness.”“Whatareyouonabout?”Isaid.“The Famla has taken all six hundred and fifty inhabitants of Thursley village as hostages. Their

messagewasclear:safepassageforusas longaswevacate theschool immediately, leavingalldeadbodiesbehindandallowingthemtokeeptwenty-fourstudentsofourchoice–woundedornot,itdoesnotmatter. For full disclosure, theymade it clear that the twenty-four students who remain will besacrificed,sotherewillbenoneedforanyrescueattempt.”ThursleyvillagewastheclosestvillagetoGatewayHill.WilliamandIwereshocked.Wedidn’tknowwhattosay,andthenJaysaid,“Well,Di,youarethe

seniorOmniofthisschool;thedecisionisyours.”

AsperYanlaw,anymemberoftheTenwhowaspostedanywherewasautomaticallygiventheroleofleaderofthearea.BecausethereweresofewmembersoftheTeninJ.C.,theroleofleaderfelltomebecauseIwasanOmni,soIoutrankedallofthem.IturnedtoWilliamandsaid,“Idon’twanttomakethedecisionalone.Weneedtotalktotheothers.

Whatdoyouthink?”Hetouchedmycheek,puthisforeheadonmineandsaid,“Yes,Iagree,andthanksforincludingme.

Iloveyou.”Andhekissedme.Wewent to the boys’ living room and luckily all our friendswere there.We told themwhat had

happened, while Jay went to inform the authorities of this new development. I told them about theFamla’sproposalandaskedfortheiropinion.AsmuchasIwantedtosendtheFamlatohell,thetruthwasthattwenty-fourpeopleversussixhundredandfiftywasano-brainer.ItwentaswellasI’dexpected.TheYanswantedtogivetheFamlathetwenty-fourstudents,andthe

Masanisweredeadsetagainstit.Icouldn’tunderstandtheirlogic.Theywantedtokeepthetwenty-fourstudents,thenchargeinandrescuethesixhundredandfiftyhostages.Clearly,noneofthemhadanyideahowharditwastodefeattheHendus,andthatwasn’tevenwith

theroyalthere.Odinonlyknewhowwewouldmanagetodefeatthem.Butasitturnedout,theauthoritiesdidnotrecognisemyauthorityandrefusedtolistentoJaywhen

shetriedtoexplainthatthedecisionwasmineandmineonly.ThepoliceleadershipwasmadeupofSurreyPolicechiefconstableNicolaEpgrave,thedeputychief

constable, Grace Stephen, Detective Chief Superintendent Jana Boshier and Chief SuperintendentJonathanSobell,whoallhadchildrenatJ.C.andwereintheconvoysenttorescueusfromGatewayHill’simpendingattack.TheywerealsotheoneswhotookthedecisionnottonegotiatewiththeFamla,withthecomplicityof

CaptainGerardO’ConnorandMajorPaulMcNamara.Ihadhadenoughofallofthem,soIdecidedtoletthemhang.Iinformedthemthattheywerefreetorefuse,butImadeitclearthatsincetheychosetounderminemyleadership,Ihadnootherchoicebuttoleave,takingwithmetheentireYangroupandanyoneelsewhowishedtofollowus.MajorMcNamarawalkedstraightuptome,smiledandsaid,“Oh,princess,yousurewillbemissed.

Nowoffyougo.Thegrown-upshaveworktodo.”Hewinkedatmeandwalkedbacktojointheothers.I was furious. I yelled, “Hey, morons, good luck defeating an enemy with supernatural powers,

unpreparedandoutgunned.I’llmakesuretotellyourfamilieshowyourownstupidityandfoolishnessgotyoukilled.Withabitofluck,whentheyaredonehatingyou,theymightonedayrememberyoursorrybehindsfondly.”Therewasamomentofsilence,andthentheyburstoutlaughing,andtoaddinsulttoinjury,Major

McNamarasaid,“Oh,Diana,Iloveyousomuch.”

Thatwasitforme.Ileft,andImadesuretoslamthedoorbehindme.Iwentbacktojointheothers,andItoldthesquadrontoflyoffwithanystudentwhowantedtoleavewiththemtogotoGuildford,while itwasdecided thatAlex,TristanandIwouldbehoveringaround just toseewhatwascomingnext.Tomysurprise,allthestudentschosetofollowus,leavingtheauthoritiesbehind.Itconfirmedtome

thateventheMasanistudentsknewthattheFamlawasthemostlikelytowinthatbattle.I suddenly realised that not only had I forgotten to call Pam’s mother and report on what had

happened,butIstillhadn’ttoldtheboysaboutthemissionIhadbeengivenbythegeneralcouncil.When I toldAlex andTristan about the anomaly and our belief that the school yew treewas the

sourceoftheanomalyandwasaportal,theyagreedwithPamandmyassessment.TheyalsosaidthattheynowunderstoodwhytheFamlakeptattackingtheschool.Westilldidn’tknowwhytheywantedtwenty-fourpeople,butlettingthemgetaccesstothattreewas

ano-noforus.

W illiamagreedtoleavewiththeothers,butonlyifIpromisednot to interveneandhelptheauthorities.HewasworriedthatImightgethurt.Ihadnointentionofhelpingthosewho I called “ungratefulbags”, and I swore to joinhimand theotherswithplentyof

gossipassoonaspossible.WatchingJayflyoffwithhersquadronseemedtorattlethesoldiersandtheofficersdeeply,because

wecouldseethemarguingwiththeirleadership,andIknewwhy.Theyhadwitnessedfirst-handthefullforceoftheFamlaandknewthatwithoutustheywouldbedecimated.ItseemedtomethattheFamlawasnotwillingtowaiteither,becauseassoonastheyreceivedthe

messagefromthechiefconstableinformingthemoftheirdecisionnottoagreetotheirdemands,theyslaughteredtheentirevillage,childrenincluded,andsetitonfire.Beforelong,theyarrivedatJ.C.andstartedtobreakdownthetwogatestoallowtheirfollowersto

enter. It took themnomore thanfiveminutes.Then theybarged in,holding torches. Itwassurreal. Icould only surmise that they were using torches to intimidate their enemies, and as far as I wasconcerned,itworked–ifIhadbeendownthere,Iwouldhavebeenterrified.

J.C.’s very ownRagnarök had started.Allwe could hearwas screams and gunfire. Iwould havegiven anything to see the faces of the chief constable, the captain and especially the major at thatmoment, but they had retreated to the main building while their troops were firing at the Famla’sfollowers.Cowards,thewholelotofthem.Iknewit!Ithought.InYanartheleaderwasthefirsttoheadontothe

battlefield,butclearlynothere.WhenIsawthemcoweringinthemainbuilding,Ithoughttomyself,Theyarelucky.IfIwasn’tOdin’sdaughter,IwouldhavegonedownthereandsaidItoldyouso!Butthingsquicklyescalated.Thesoldiersseemedtobenomatchforanangrymob,soIsentAlexto

gotoGuildfordandgettheotherYans.Wewilldefinitelyneedthemforthisfight,Ithought.AsmuchasIwaswillingtoletthemajorandtheotherbossessuffer,Ilikedthesoldiers,andIknew

that theywere only obeyingorders. I decided that I couldn’t standby and let the attack continue. Itwouldbeaslaughter.IsignalledTristanandweattacked.HestartedblastingtheFamlafollowerswithblazesoffirewhileI

was electrocuting them. It was working fine. It was obvious that the Famla had thought we haddeparted,becausetheystartedrunningawayassoonasweattacked.Theyweresurprisedtofindusintheschool.Whiletheywererunningaway,wenoticedachangeintheair.Theairfeltheavy,justlikethefirst

timewehaddealtwiththeFiras.Itwascomingfromthewest,soweflewoverinordertocheckwhatwashappening,andwesawfromafarthatsomethingwasapproaching.WesurmisedthatitmusthavebeenFiras,buttheyweretoofarawayforustobeabsolutelysure,and

it looked like theywerecarryingsomething.Wegotcloserandwenoticeda fewhumanforms.Thatwaswhenweunderstood.Theyhadmade themselves intoa flyingcarpetandhadagroupofpeoplewiththem.HumanscouldnotstandonFiras.TheonlypossibleexplanationwasthatitwastheYahas,theHendus’veryownwitches.Webargedintothemainhall,wherethepoliceofficersandsoldiershadretreatedandwerehavinga

meeting.Tristanwassosurprisedthatheblurtedout,“Why?”Theyturnedtowardsus,andCaptainO’Connorwalkedtousandsaid,“Whywhat?”ThenTristansaid,“Whyareyouhavingameeting?Clearly,youhavebeenbeaten.Whyaren’tyou

packingupandonyourwayout?”Hegaveusapuzzledlook,andIhadhadenough.Iwasnotpreparedtodiefortheirstubbornness,so

I hovered above them and told them exactly what was coming and why. I knew talking to MajorMcNamarawasawasteoftime.Asoldier’sdutywastodiefortheircountry,butthepolicehadadutytoliveinordertoprotectthepublic.Iwasprettysuretheywouldretreatwithus.Iwentstraighttothechiefconstable,andasexpected,themajorcutmeoffandsaidthattheyshould

waitforJay’ssquadrontoreturn.ItoldNicolaEpgravethatIhadsentAlextoaskforhelpawhileago,andsincetheywereflying,iftheyhadnotyetarrived,thatprobablymeantthattheycouldn’tcome.

ShetoldMajorMcNamarathatshedidn’twanttogambleit,andgavehimonelastchancetosavethelivesofhismen,becauseshewasleavingwithorwithouthim.Itworked.Theygotintotheirvehiclesandmadetheirwaytothenorthgate,butnotbeforemakinguspromisetofollowthem.Weagreed.Assoonaswesawtheirvehiclesdisappear, I turnedtoTristanandsaid,“Remember theyewtree.

Let’sburnitdownbeforetheygethere,anicelittlegoodbyegiftfortheYahas.”“Willitclosetheanomaly?”heasked.“Idon’tknow,butI’llbedamnedifIdon’tdosomethingtothattree.AfteralltheHendushavedone

tous,wehaveearnedtheRightofFuchou,”Isaid.TheRightofFuchouwastherightofvengeance.ItwasarightgiventoanyYanwhohadbeenhurtin

somewaytogetrevengeontheirattacker.Itwasusuallydonebychallengingtheattackertoaduel,butsincewedidnothavethatoption,wecouldonlygoaftertheirtree.Hesmiledandagreed,andwestartedlaughing.Itwasgoingtobefabulous.Wecountedtothreeand

lit the tree on fire.Then all of a sudden,weheard anunimaginable andhorrendous sound.The treestartedtomoveandvibrate,somuchsothatitstartedtolooklikeadoubleimage.Thegroundstartedtoshake.Itfeltliketheentirestructurearoundthetreewasabouttocollapse,soweflewaway.Allofa sudden,westartedseeing the flyingcarpetgettingcloserandcloser.Theywerespeeding.

OneoftheHendusinhumanformwasactuallyflying.Theflying-humandotmovedtothefrontofthepack,andwerealisedthatthepersonwaswearingablackmask.Weimmediatelyscreamed,“Theroyal!”Itwassoobviousthatitwastheroyal;theoutfithadagoldencrestrightatthefront.Itwasablack

suit that remindedme of the one Red Skull wears inCaptain America. As it got closer, it becameobviousthattheroyalwasawoman.Ithought,Well,clearly,weknowwhothatis.Otherwise,whybotherwithafullheadmask?It’snot

likewegetTheRealRoyaloftheHenduHomeWorldonSkyTV.WhenIrepeatedthistoTristan,hegavemeapuzzledlook,soIhadtoexplainthejoketohim.Itold

himthatIwasmakingareferencetoTheRealHousewivesofAtlanta.TometheequivalentwouldbeTheRealRoyaloftheHenduHomeWorld.Thistimehegotthejokeandburstoutlaughingbutagreed.Andnowwerealisedthatwemusthave

gottenherreallyangry,becausewecouldstillfeelthegroundshaking.Thescreamshaddiminished,butthenitturnedintoahugeroar.Itwassoloudthatwehadtoflyhigherandcloseourears.Theroyalscreamedwhenshesawthetree,andflewtowardsit.Notlongaftershehadreachedthe

tree,thecarpetofpeoplefinallylandedandrantowardshertotryandstopherfromtryingtosavethetree,butshepushedthemaway.Thetreegavealastroar,thenfell.Itwasdead.Theroyaltookoffhermask,raisedherheadupandscreamedinpain.Shewascryingandcrying.Shewashuggingthetreeandcryingsomemore.Shewasdevastated.She

kept talkingina languagewedidnotunderstand,andherfollowersweretryingto touchher,butshe

wouldn’tletthem.Werealisedthatwehaddonesomethingseriouslybad.Wecouldn’tseetheroyal’sface,butwecould

seeherandfeelherpain.Whateverwehadkilledmeanta lot toher,andIhad thefeeling that therewouldbehelltopay.Tristan tookmyhandandsaid, “I thinkwe justmadeabigmistake.Weneed toclearoutofhere

yesterday.”Wegavethegrievingroyalalastlook,hopingtoseeherface,butshedidnotturnaround,soweleft.Weflewsofastthatwepassedtheauthorities’convoy,andTristanstoppedme.Hewasn’tsurethat

weshouldleavethem,butIwas.Wehadgiventhemmoretimethantheyhaddeserved.As far as I was concerned, we were done with them. Our friends and fellow students were my

priority,andIwantedtomakesurethattheyhadarrivedsafelyinGuildfordandwereontheirwaytotheirhomes,oratleastatGuildfordtrainstation,waitingfortheirtrain.Whenwewere approachingGuildford,we could see from afar a lot of small fires all around the

town.Icouldn’tunderstandwhathadhappened,andwonderedwheremycousinwas.Wherewasmysister?WherewasWilliam?Wherewereourfriends?WherewereallthestudentsfromJ.C.?IturnedtoTristan in shock. I was also terrified. Something really bad had happened, and I was too scared tospeculate.Ijustsaid,“Tristan.”Heheldmyhandandsaid,“It’sgoingtobeokay.Theyarefine.Theyareallfine.”Icouldn’tthinkstraight,soItoldhim,“I’mtooupset.Helpme.Ican’tthink.Ican’tthink.”Hegavemeahugandwhisperedinmyear,“Yougoandfindyourfamily.I’vegottheothers.I’ve

gotit.Go.”Tearsstartedrunningdownmycheeks.Inodded.ThenIflewoff.Itwasdarkandhardtosee.AllIcouldseewasfireeverywhere,soIflewhigherandconjuredsome

raintostopthefires.ThenIcamedown.Thecityseemeddeserted.Therewasnonoise;bodieswerelyingonthestreet.Icheckedonafewofthem,buttheywerealldead.Most placeswere dark, but even the places that had a light onwere deserted or had dead bodies

within.TheBoroughofGuildfordhadaboutahundredandforty-eightthousandinhabitants,andnotasingleonewasleftstandinginthetown.Itwasobviousthattheywerenotalldead,butwherehadtheyallgone?Wherewasmysisterandherfriends?Eventually,ImetbackwithTristan,andhetoldmethathecouldn’tfindanyoneeither,andforthe

firsttime,wereallyfeltalone.Weshouldhavehadourphoneswithus,butasusualwedidn’t.Yansdidn’tusesocialmedia–itwas

illegalinYanar–andtheYanslivingintheMasaniworldtendedtonotwalkaroundwiththeirphones.ThepeopleofYanarnolongerusedphones.WeusedacommunicationdeviceonourwristcalledKJ,butitwasn’tavailableintheMasaniworld.

TristanthoughtthatmaybetheyhadallgonetoLondonforsafety,YansandMasanisalike,includingtheGuildfordlocals,andproposedthatwefollowthemthere.Iagreed,andwehadstartedmakingourwaywhenInoticedafewfamiliarvehicles.Itwastheconvoythathadbeentransportingtheyoungerstudents,andthosewounded,aswellasthebodies,fromJ.C.The vehicles were turned upside down. It was obvious that the convoy had been ambushed. The

coach transporting the studentswas empty, but their luggagewas splatteredon the floor.ThebodiesfromJ.C.weremissing,andIimmediatelythoughtofDelphineandBrown.Theirbodiesweregoneaswell.ThenIcheckthewounded,andtheyhadalldisappeared.Ifitwasn’tforthemassiveamountofblood

andtheobvioussignofstruggle,Iwouldhavethoughtthatthosevehicleshadbeenemptytostartwith.IgaspedandlookedatTristan.Isaid,“Whatonearthhappenedhere?”IwassodistraughtthatIwas

almostyelling.Tristanwasfrozen.Hewasn’tsayingaword.Thenhelookedatmeandsaid,“Itwasatrap.Itwasa

gamefromthebeginning,andwefellforit.”Ididn’tunderstandwhathemeantatfirst.Thenitjustclicked.Hewasright;ithadbeenatrap.The

Famlahadneverexpectedustohandovertothemtwenty-fourstudents.Theyknewthat theauthoritieswouldsendthestudentsaway.Theyalsoknewthat thegovernment

wouldn’tnegotiatewiththem,andtheyknewthattheclosesttownwasGuildford.Allthey’dhadtodowastowaitfortheconvoyandattackitandtakethestudents.Theinhabitantsof

Thursleyvillagehadprobablybeenkilledalongtimeago.IrealisedthatMajorMcNamarawasrightandIwaswrong.NegotiatingwiththeFamlawouldhavebeenawasteoftime.Tristanstartedyelling,“Let’sgetoutofhere,now.Let’sgonow.”Soweflewaway,andweweremakingourwaytoLondon,andthatwaswhenwesawit:thedome.

Londonwasunderadome.Therewasnootherexplanationforitbutthatthecouncilhadbeenpushedtodoit.IlookedatTristanandsaid,“Howtiredareyou?”Hereplied,“Very.”Thenwe knew thatwe needed to go and regroup somewhere and spend the night, sowe flew to

BirminghamandknockedatHassan’suncle’shouse.Whenheopenedthedoor,hewasn’tsurprisedtoseeus.Hejustsaid,“Abouttime,”andmovedaway.BehindhimwereAmeliaandthegang.Istartedcryingandrantowardsthem.Iknewtheyhadalottotell,butsodidwe.After huggingAmelia, Scarlett,Hogan,Alex, Pam andHassan, I noticed thatmyWilliamwasn’t

there.Ifranticallyaskedwherehewas,andtheysentmeupstairs.IranintoHassan’sbedroom,hopingthatWilliamwasthere,andfoundhimlyingonthebed.Hesmiledandopenedhisarms,andIjumpedonhim.Hescreamed,andIrealisedthathewashurt.I

pulledhistopupandsawbruisesalloverhisbody.Ilookedathimwithtearsinmyeyes.AllIcoulddo

wastouchhimgentlyandtellhimhowsorryIwas.Hehadhadhisribsbroken,butheassuredmethathewasokayandhadseenadoctor.Hetookme

backintohisarms,andIlaynexttohim.Iwantedtoknowwhathadhappened,andhewantedtokissmefirst.Ihappilycaved.Westartedkissing,andWilliamputhishandundermytopandwastouchingmewhenHassanbargedin.The look we gave him could have killed Godzilla himself. Forgetting that we owed him our

accommodation,Williamscreamedathimtogetout,butHassanignoredhim.Heturnedtomeandsaid,“Wereceivednews.Getdownstairsnow.”Welookedateachotherandthenjumpedfromthebed.Williamstruggledbutrefusedtostaybehind.

Icouldseehewasinpain,andaskedhimtoleanonme,butherefused.Asusual,hismachosidewaswinningovercommonsense.Whenwegottothelivingroom,Ameliawasintears.Iasked,“What’sgoingon?”Hoganwasstrugglingtospeak.Hehadbeencryingtooandsaid,“Jay’steamisalmostentirelygone.

TheydiedinthebattleofGuildford,andsheis inintensivecare.Theyarenotsureifsheisgoingtomakeit.”“ShewastakenbacktoYanarbyherflightlieutenant,Diallo.”Isaid,“Wait,wait,wait.IwasinGuildford.IfYanbodieswerethere,Iwouldhaveseenthem.”HassantoldmetoactivatemyKJ.Athisuncle’shome,theyhadtheKJ’sactivationkey.AssoonasI

did, I saw the message that had been left. Amelia and I had received a message from our parents,narratingwhathadhappenedtoJay.ShehadusedtheMjölnirattack,andbydoingso,shehadmanagedtotakeouttheentireHendubattalionsituatedatGuildfordstation.Thenewsmademefeelsick.Jaywasalmostgone.Shehadchosentoriskherlifetosavesomeone

else’s.ThatwasdefinitelytheattitudeIwouldhaveexpectedfromher.Irantotheclosestbathroomandvomited.ThenIscreamedinangerandpain.Ishouldhavebeenthere.Ishouldhavebeenfightingnexttoher,butinstead,IhadbeenfoolishenoughtowanttostayatJ.C.Idon’tknowhowlongIstayedinthebathroomuntilWilliamcametogetme.Hetoldmehowsorry

hewas.HeaddedthatIneededtogetup,becausebreakinguswasexactlywhattheenemywanted.Healsoaddedthatmycousinwasn’tdeadyetandthathefullybelievedthatshewouldpullthrough.ThatwaswhatIneededtohear,soIturnedaroundandhuggedhim.Hewasmyrock,andIknewat

thatmomentthathewasmyeverything.WhenIgottothelivingroom,theotherswerewaitingforme.Hogan and Hassan said that I should be proud of Jay, that she had destroyed the enemy, and hersquadron’ssacrificemeantthatIwouldseethemverysooninValhalla.Hewasright;theirsacrificedidguaranteethemaprominentplacenexttoOdin,butitstillhurt,andit

wasn’tmuch consolation. I knewmost of them and loved themdearly. It did, however, giveme thestrengthanddeterminationtoavengetheirdeath.

Butforthat,IneededtoknowexactlywhathadhappenedwhentheyhadleftusandmadetheirwaytoGuildford.Jay’ssquadronhadleftwithallthestudents.IwastoldthatwhentheygottoGuildford,theyhadfoundthefirstconvoyhadbeenattackedandno

studentswereleft.TheHenduswerepickingupthebodiesofJ.C.’sdeadstudents,whichweremeanttobereturnedtotheirfamilies,whileotherHenduswereescortingtheinhabitantsofGuildfordinchainsandputtingthemintolorrieslikeanimals.JayhadsentagroupofAirbornstoLondonwithinstructionstoprotectallthestudentsandputthem

ontrainsbacktotheirhomes.TheywereorderedtostaywiththeMasanistudentsuntilthelastonehadbeen safely put on a train, and come back to Guildford. TheYan students, however, were asked toprepareforafightonthegroundwiththeFamla.WilliamandScarlettrefusedtoleavewiththeothersbutwereforciblyremovedbyJay’steam.WhenthestudentsarrivedinLondon,theyfounditundersiegebytheFiras,sotheAirbornstoldthe

students that therewere too few of them to fight the Firas. They opted for the best solution at thatmomentandflewthestudentstoBirmingham.Thereweretoomanystudentstoflyinonego,sotheyhadtotakethemonebyoneanddropthematthetrainstation.ScarlettandWilliamaskedtobedroppedattheCongoTreeoffices,acharitybasedinBirmingham

working tohelpcitizensofRDC living in theUK.Hoganhad told them thatoneof theirprominentmemberswasaYan.TheyliedtohimandtoldhimthatJayhadaskedthattheyremainwithhimuntilHassanandtheotherYansjoinedthem.Hoganhadindicatedthattheywouldmeetthemassoonastheycould,butsinceLondonwasundera

dome, they decided to gamble and hoped that at leastHassanwould be taking refuge at his uncle’shome.SowhentheYanatCongoTreewasinfrontofthem,theytoldhimthattheyhadbeensentbyJaimie

Bouba,andherinstructionswereforhimtoprotectthem.Thentheyleft.TheYaninquestionthentookthemtothemostprominentYanintown,JonathanMulumba,Hassan’suncle.WethenturnedtoHogan,HassanandPam,andaskedthemwhathadhappenedwhentheothersleft.

Theypausedforasecond,andthenPamsaidthattheyhadbeentoldbyJaytocallforhelp,andJayandherteamhadleft.TheproblemwasthatalltheirKJswereoffline,andasusual,noneoftheYanscarriedmobilephones,sotheyhadhadtorunintodifferentbuildingsandtrytousetheirlandlines,butthelineshadbeencut.Theofficewasransacked.Theentire townlookedlikeithadbeenlooted.Theywereabout to lose

hopewhen they found aworkingmobile phone on the ground and called for help, but the embassydemandedthattheyleavetheGuildfordinhabitantstotheirfateandreporttoLondonimmediately.ItlookedliketheHendushadalsocalledforhelp,becausenotlongafterWilliam’sgrouphadleft,a

swarmofYahaswearingblackhoodedcapeswiththeroyalfamilycrest, liketheVolturis inTwilight,arrivedtogivetheirGuildfordteamahand.

AYansquadronwasmadeofonehundredfighters.Unfortunately,fromwhatPamwassaying,eventhough theFira squadronwasn’t bigger, they still had at least threehundredYahason their side.OnJ.C.’sside, therewereonly thirteenYans,notcountingJay’salreadydiminishedgroup,sinceshehadsentasizableportionofherteamtoescorttheMasanistudentstosafety.Thefightwaslookingmoreandmorelikeanimpossiblebattle,andJayknewit.ShemadethedecisiontosendsomeofherremainingsquadrontoescorttheYanstudentstoLondon.

Atfirstthestudentsrefused,butsheturnedherrequestintoanorder,andtheyretreatedliketheRoadRunnerinfrontofWileE.Coyote.AssoonastheYahasrealisedthattheJ.C.Yansweredoingarunner,theystartedrunningafterthem

andshowedhowpowerfultheyactuallywere.AfirsttheYahasstartedrunningafterthestudents.Thentheystopped.Agroupofthemheldhandsandstartedchanting,“Berlinbango.”Theychantedoverandoveragain.AwallofclayerecteditselfinfrontofPamandtheotherYans.

Unfortunately for them, Pam being a Terrayan, she made it explode in on itself, allowing them tocontinue on their way. She then flew and hovered over them. She gave them a very big smile. Byattemptingtostopthem,theYahashadshowntheirhand.Individuallytheycouldn’tmatchYans.Itclearlytookatleasttenofthemtoerectawall,whichtold

Pamandtheothersthatindividuallytheywerenotthathardtokill.PamturnedtoMabelandshouted,“Wahdumahol,”whichmeant“Createawall”inYan.TheybothraisedtheirhandsanderectedawallbetweenthemandtheYahas.Pamturnedtotheboys

togivethemthenextstep,butEirninMaclochlainn–afellowYanfromJC–wasfasterthanher,andhesaid,“Girls,youhavehelpedenough.Timetoleaveandletustrytoholdthemback.”Pamdisagreedandsaid,“Look,guys, itdoesn’tmatterhowstrongyouguysare.Theyoutnumber

youatleasttwentytoone.Youarealldeadbeforethefightevenstarts.”ThenHoganasked,“Sowhatexactlydoyouexpectustodo?Runaway?”Hassanturnedtohimandsaid,“Hoggy,insomecases,theonlyvictoryistoflee.”The other guys agreed with him, except the Irish boys, as usual. Irish Yans were known to be

incapableofmovingawayfromafight.Pamthenhadabrilliant idea.Sheofferedtobreakthewalldown,openthegroundunderneath the

Yahasandcloseitback.Whateverwasleftofthemwouldbeeasilydefeatedbytheboys.Theyagreedandpreparedthemselves.Pamcamedown,andwithMabeltheybothstoodinfrontof

thewall.Shecouldhear theYahasontheotherside,chantingina languagetheydidnotunderstand.“Bangoyasauko.”Thegirlsblewawaytheirwall,whichtookoutafewoftheYahas.Thegirlsthenplungedontoone

knee,knockedthegroundwiththeirfists,anditopenedrightunderneaththeYahas,promptingalargenumber ofYahas to fall in. They then closed the rift back, ensuring that the fallen had been buriedforever.

TheYahaslookedfurious.Theyscreamedwithrageandrantowardsthem,determinedtotearthemapart.ThiswaswhentheboysrantowardstheYahas,andthefightstarted.TheYahaswereverygoodfighters,anditwasadifficultbattle.Mabelwastryingherbest,butPamnoticedthatshewasabouttobeoverrunbyheropponents,soshecoatedherinclayandsentherflyingawayfromthefightingsite.Mabel’sopponentturnedtowardsPaminrage,butPam,beingexcellentatFIST,wasoverpowering

themeasily.Eventually, they realised that they couldn’twin, and the remaininggroupofYahaswhocouldstillstandranaway.PamflewawaytomakesurethatMabelhadlandedsafely,andtheyallleftthearea.WethenturnedtoAlextofindoutwhathehadseen.Whenhearrived,itwasafull-blownwar.Most

Firashadbeenkilledbythesquadron,buttheYahaswereachallengeforthem.Thewitcheshadcastaprotectivespellonthemselves,soYanpowerswerenotaffectingthem.Jayhadnootheroptionbut to engage them in aphysical fight,which shouldhavebeeneasy if it

wasn’tforthefactthattheYahasseriouslyoutnumberedtheYans.Jayrealisedthatiftheycouldfightthemwithmeleecombat,thentheycouldkilltheminonegoas

well.Sheconjuredrain,andoneofherOmnifightersblastedanelectricballonthewetgroundwhilethesquadrongotoffthegroundquickly,whichkilledalltheYahasinstantly.JaythenrealisedthatAlexhadarrived,andsheflewtowardshim.Whenshereachedhim,shesaid,

“Go,tellthecouncileverythingyouknowabouttheHendus.I’llbegivingthemareportassoonasIamdonehere.”Heinformedherthattheycouldnotbekilledbybulletsbut,likezombies,choppingofftheirheads

workedfine.Shesmiledathim,gavehimaforwardSahnu,whichwastheYangoodbye,toldhimthatshelovedhimandsenthimtorejoinhissister.Alexhadafunnyfeeling.Hisstomachbecametight.Hewantedtoturnaround,butheknewthatJay

wasnotjokingandwouldhavehimescortedifnecessary.Whilehewasleaving,hesawJay’sOmnisimprisoninganothersquadronofYahaswhohadjustarrivedinthemud,andheardherpreparingfortheMjölnirattack.Hewasabout toaskherwhywhenhesawasquadronofFirasapproaching,aswellasevenmore

Yahasmarchingtowardsthem.Hecouldn’tunderstandhowtherecouldbesomanyHendusinSurrey.Hewaswonderingwheretheywerecomingfrom.HewantedtostaydespiteJay’sorder,butheknewthathehadtoleaveandfindPambecauseJ.C.wasintrouble,soheleft.AssoonasIheardthat,myheartsank.TheMjölnirattackwasamilitarymovecreatedbytheNorse

tocrush their enemies inoneblowwithThor’shelp. Ididn’tknowhow itwasperformed,but IhadheardthatthepeopleexecutingitwereguaranteedatripstraighttoValhalla.JayhadknownshemightneverseeAlexagain.ThatwaswhyshegavehimaforwardSahnurather

thanaregularSahnu.ASahnuwastheYangreeting.TheforwardSahnuinvolvedcrossingyourarms

overyourchest,havingthebackofyourhandstouchwiththoseof theotherpersonandthenputtingyourforeheadontheirforehead.TheregularSahnudidnotinvolvetheforeheadstouching.AsmuchasIwassaddenedbyJay’scondition, Icouldn’thelpbut feel immensepride.Mycousin

was soamazing that shehaddefied thecouncil’sorders to standdown, so shecould shieldasmanypeopleasshecould,andshehadalmostdiedtryingtostoptheHendusfromhurtingmorepeoplethantheyhadplanned.William suddenly said, “By theway, anyone knowwhat is happening in the country? I am quite

worriedaboutmyfamily.”“Iamtoo,”saidtheothers.“Wait.NoonehastriedtowatchTVorcheckonline?”Iasked.Theyansweredno.Apparently, theywere tooscared todoso incase thenewswasnotgood.The

onlymessageleftbythecouncilforuswasanimmediatereturnhome.In theMasaniworld, however,we found out from the news that theHenduswerewinning every

battle, and the portalswere being opened by the Famla, allowingmoreHendus to cross over to ourworld.Londonwasnolongerunderadome.ThenewsexplainedthatthedomehadbeenplacedbytheYans

inordertogivetheBritishauthoritiestimetorelocatethemembersofparliamentandtheroyalfamilytoasafelocation.UncleJonathanhadconfirmedthattheUKwasatwarandthatpublictransportwasnolongersafe

foranyone,sowewereaskedtoescortourfriendshome.IwantedtoseeWilliamsafe-lyhome,soItookhimwhileHogan,accompaniedbyTristan,tookScarlettbacktoHereford.

W henwegottoCardiff,itwasveryhardtosaygoodbye.Williambeggedmetostaywithhimforafewdays,andIagreed.Hemadesurethatmystaywasveryromantic.Hetookmeouttodinner.Thenwewalkedaroundthebay,andwewentbacktohishouse.His

parentswereinBridgend,helpinghisnanmoveinwiththem,buthissisterwasthere,andIgottoknowher.His roomwassoboyish,coveredwithaction figuresandvideogames.Heclearlydidn’texpect to

bringanyonetospendthenightinhishouseandseehisroom.The next morning, it felt so strange waking up in his house. I had slept with his sister because

William,beingaChristian,wassavinghimself formarriage,butwedidkissa lot, andbeingable totouchhimwasamazing.In Yanar the only people who followed strict rules of morality and lived by it were people who

wantedtojointheOrders,aspecialbranchoftheYanmilitary.NoneofusJ.C.YansessentiallywantedtojointheOrdersexceptforPam,butrealisingthatevenmasaniscouldfollowastrictwayoflifeandbehappyfollowingitwasmakingmereconsidermydecisiontojoinaswell.

Wakingupinmyfirstlove’shousemademefeeldifferent,moregrown-up.IreallywantedtoseeifIalsolookeddifferent,soIrantothebathroomandstaredatmyselfinthemirror,butIlookedthesame.Iwasalittledisappointed.Williamcameupbehindme,puthisarmsaroundmywaist,puthischinonmyshoulderandsaid,

“Whatisit?”whilestaringatmethroughthemirror.IthinkhewasworriedthatIregrettedstayingwithhimratherthanheadingforYanar,buthewaswrong.Iturnedtohimandsaid,“Ilookthesame,”andImadeafunnyface,soIhadtoexplaintohimhowI

wasfeeling.Hesaid,“Oh,honey.”Heturnedmetowardshimandstartedkissingme,whichmademelaugh.IexplainedtohimthatI

thoughtthatafterhimmakingmefeelsospecialandfemininebybeingsoromantic,IthoughtIwouldlookdifferent.Ialwaysreadthat lovemadewomenlookevenmorebeautiful,butI lookedthesame,andIwasheartbroken.HetoldmethatIwasthemoststunninggirlhehadneverseenandthatifIneededtofeelgirly,thenit

wasnowhisjobtogivemethatfeeling.Iwashopingthatwewouldshowertogether,butitdidnothappen.However,hetookmetohisroom

afterwehadbothshowered,sowecouldhavebreakfastonhisbed.Ilovedit.Whilewewere eating, I loved the fact thatwe kissed every fiveminutes andwere glued to each

other. I never thought that spending an entire day having fun and eatingwithout leaving a bedroomwouldbesogreat,butitwas.Icouldn’thelpbutdreamofthedaythewarwouldbeoverandwewouldbedoingthisinmyownbedroominYanara.Itwouldbeamazing.Butthehoneymoondidnotlast.AftertwodaysinCardiff,IwascalledtoreporttoYanarprontoby

AibreannMacConraoi,whosemotherwasthecaptaingeneraloftheYanMarineCorps.Iexpectedtofindheratourembassy,butaknockatthedoorprovedmewrong.Shehadcomeherselftopickmeup.TheYanMarineCorpswasmadeofAquasandOmnisonly.NootherYanswereallowedtobepartof

it,becausenootherYanwascapableoffightingunderwater.Aibreann, who everybody called Breann, informed me that the war my father and brothers were

fightinghadbeenwon.Iscreamedwithjoyandjumpedtohuggedher,butshewasn’tsmilingbackatme.Iturnedaround,askedWilliamtoexcusemeandcameoutofthehouse.I asked her againwhatwaswrong, and she repeated that thewar had beenwon.Our enemy had

capitulatedandhadsignedanunconditionalsurrenderonthepromisedland.Thiswaswhenithitme:thepromisedlandwasours,whichmeantthattheYanswouldbeleavingEarthforgood.Hundredsofyearsago,aftertheYanshadsettledinYanar,theNorsepriestessesreceivedavisitfrom

Odin,whotoldthemofapromisedlandinthesky,aplanethehadcreatedjustforournation,andwhenthe timewas right,wewould find thatplanetandbeable to finally livehappilyeverafterandawayfromtheMasanis,whohadpersecutedusandchasedusawayfromourhomes.

Sincethatday,exploringthestarsinsearchofthatlandhadbeenthegeneralcouncil’stoppriority,andwehadfinallyfounditdecadesago.Thegeneralcouncilhadstarted tomoveourequipmentandinfrastructuretothenewworld.Theyhadalsosentteamsofengineersandbuilderstobuildusabrand-newhomeonthatnewplanetwehadnamedGealltaYanar.ItwasaplanetthesizeofMercury,withnoanimals,butbesidesthat,itwasanexactreplicaofEarth

inweather and ecosystem.Unfortunately, an alien race had started to appear a few years after theirarrivalandhadlaidclaimtoGeallta.TheYangovernmentrefusedtohandovertheplanet,sothealienshadkilledeverybody thatwasonGealltaYanar at the time,notknowing that thereweremoreofuselsewhere.The council sent our entire space force after them, reinforced by the Orders, and that move had

startedthewarbetweentheYansandthealiens.Nowthatthewarwaswon,therewasnothingstoppingusfromleaving,especiallysince itseemedlike thecouncilwantedto leave theMasanis to theirownfateandstayoutoftheHendu–Masaniwar.NowIunderstoodwhythecouncilhadbeenrecallingallYanshome;wewereleavingEarthforgood.

Wewerebeingtakentothepromisedland.I toldBreann that Ineeded tosaygoodbye toWilliam,andshegavemeafewminutesalonewith

him.ItoldhimthatIhadtoleave,butIpromisedtobeincontactsoon.Hekepttellingmehowmuchhelovedme,andhebeggedmetobecarefulandtocomebacktohiminonepiece.Breannhadhadenough.Sheyelled,“Enoughalready.Let’sgo.”I turned to her in disbelief. TheMacConraoi and theKirkpatrickwomenwere themost romantic

womenof theTen, and shewasgettingannoyedbecause Ihad trouble leavingmyboyfriend. I said,“What’syourproblem?”“Youarenottheonlyonewhowillhavetoleavealovedonebehind,Di,”shesaid.Ofcourse,Ithought.ShewasstationedinDublin.Sheprobablyhadfallenforoneofthelocals,and

nowshewasbeingforcedtoleaveherbelovedbehind.Iturnedaround,kissedWilliamforthelasttimeandflewoutwithher.Ididn’tknowifIwouldever

seehimagain,butIcouldonlyhopeforthebest.IthoughtBreannwouldtakemestraighttoYanara,butshetoldmethatshewantedtopickupallof

us,andbyallofus,shemeantPam,Alex,Amelia,Tristan,HoganandHassan.WhenwearrivedinBirmingham,IwassurprisedtofindScarlettwiththem.Ilookedatallofthem

with disbelief and said, “Guys, I thought Scarlettwas going home. I sawher leavewithHoggy andTristan.”Iwasalmostscreaming,andpointingatScarlettandHogan.Tristansaid,“It’salongstory,buthowdidyouguysgethere?”BreannandIlookedateachother,andBreannsaid,“Theold-fashionedway,byflying.Bytheway,

don’tyouwanttoknowwhatIamdoinghere?”

PamandAmeliacametowardsus,tookourhandsandmadeussitonthesofa.Theysaid,“Thathasbeengoingonforanhour.”To start with, they told us that all channels were showing the same thing. It was an older man,

probablyinhisseventies,sittingonthesetofwhatIwastoldwastheBBCnewsroom.Themessagewas simple: “Youarenowunder the rulingof theHendu royal family.TheFamla is

now the authority under which you will be living. A curfew has been imposed, and anyone foundoutsideafter7p.m.willbeshotimmediately.Yourleadershaveabandonedyouandfled,andtheonesthatdidn’thavetimetorunhaveallbeenarrestedandwillbeexecutedtomorrowatnoononTheElmsatSmithfield inLondon.Theirexecutionwillbebroadcast live forall to see.For thosewhowish toshowtheirsupportfortheFamla,youareallkindlyinvitedtocomeandwatchthemmeettheirmaker.Allirrelevantcivilservantshavebeenrelievedofduty.Allcommunicationshavebeensuspended,andyouwillallreceivefurtherinstructionslater.”Iturnedtothemandsaid“Whatwasthat?”whilepointingattheTV.Thenonenamecametomymind:William.IhadlefthiminCardiff,thinkingthathewouldbesafe.I

hadtoreturnandsavehim.As Iwasgettingup to leave,Tristanstoppedmeandsaid,“Ifyouare thinkingofgoing to rescue

Will,don’t.Heisjustateenager.Hewillbesafeinhishouse.Wehaveotherpeopletorescue.”“Likewho?”Iaskedangrily.Andhesaid,“HowaboutthepeoplewhowillbeexecutedtomorrowinLondon?”Irealisedthathewasright.IturnedtoBreann,andshesaid,“No,no,no.Iwassenttoretrieveyou

guys,andthatisit.Weareleaving,andwearedoingitrightnow.Thisorderiscomingstraightfromthecouncil.”Alexandtheothersstartedtorealisethatsomethingelsewasgoingon.Heaskedme,“Whatexactly

isBreanndoinghere?”IletBreanntellthemherselfwhyshehadcome.Assoonastheyheardthatwehadwonthewar,they

startedscreamingandjumpingwithjoy,soIdidtothemwhatBreannhaddonetome.Isaid,“Guys,theenemysurrenderedunconditionally.Gealltaisours.”Andthenitsankin.Hogansaid,“Holdon.Areyousayingthatwearereallyleaving?”“Oh, no. It’s worse. Technically, we have left already. The council has recalled all Yans home,

remember.Thebigmigrationhasbegun.Wewon’tjointheMasanisintheirfightagainsttheHendus.”Iknewthattellingthemthatwouldbeashock,buttheyneededtoknowthesituationwewerein.Breannsaid,“Guys,Iwassenttotakeallofyouhome,solet’sgo.Ihavetakentoolongalready.”Hogan turned towards Scarlett, who didn’t understand what was happening, and he explained in

detailourquestforthepromisedlandandthefactthattheYanswerenowleavingEarth.“Areyoureallygoingtoleaveme?”shesaidinatremblingvoice.

He tookher cheeks in his hands andput his foreheadon her forehead and said, “Never. I amnotleaving.Iwillneverleaveyou.Theycanleavewithoutme.IamnotgoingtoGeallta.”“NeitheramI,”Isaid,andIwashappytoseethatalltheothershadalsodecidedtodefythecouncil

aswell.Breannhadhadenoughandshesaid,“Verywell,then.I’mgoinghome,andI’llmakesuretoinform

thecouncilofyourdecision.Goodluck,guys.SeeyouonGealltaifyousurvivetheMasaniwar.”WeallgavehertheforwardSahnuandwatchedherleave.I turned to them and said, “All right, time to call home. Activate your KJs, and let’s talk to our

parents.Butfirst,wouldsomeoneexplainwhyScarlettisnotathome?”SotheymademesitdownandnarratedwhathadhappenedwhentheyhadarrivedinHereford.HoganexplainedthatwhenhehadtakenScarletthomewithTristan’shelp,assoonastheygotoffthe

train,herealisedthatsomethingwaswrong.Alltheexitsfromthestationwereblockedbyagroupofpeopledressedallinblackwithblackmasks

andholdingautomaticweapons.Hecouldfeelfearintheair.Peopledidn’tknowwhatwasgoingon,andeverybodywasaskingeachotherifanyoneknewwhothepeopleinblackwere.Hogan had recognised the Famla insignia on the men-in-black uniforms.When I asked what the

Famla insigniawas, he said that he remembered seeing a similar insignia on the capesworn by theYahas inGuildford.He said that itwas the same insignia that ornamented the capes, except that theinsigniawasnotgolden,likeinGuildford,butred.The letter“F”hadbeensittingon topof the insigniaon their jackets, so itwasn’thard forhim to

make the leapandconclude that itwasF forFamla .Hehad turned toTristanandaskedhim to flyScarlettoutofthestationandreturntoBir-minghamwithher.Scarlettrefused.Shedidn’twanttoleavehim,andshealsowantedtocheckonherparents.Tristan

refusedaswell.HetoldHoganthatthemomentheflewoff,theFamlawouldimmediatelyguessthathewasaYan,andhewouldbekilledonthespot.HoganturnedtoTristanandtoldhim,“Ican’tfightmywayoutandprotectheratthesametime.I

loveher.Sheismyeverything.Pleasesaveher.Justgrabherandgo.”Tristankeptshakinghishead.Hesaid,“IfIflyoff,theywillkillyou.Iwillneverforgivemyselfif

anythinghappenstoyou.YouaremybrotherandIloveyou.Let’stryandpassasregularpeople.Ibettheyarenotevenlookingforus.”Scarlett agreed. She categorically refused to leave, so they followed the crowd.Themen in black

werescanningeachfacewithadevicethatlookedlikeaportablescanner.Itwasprettyclearthattheywerelookingforsomeone.Theymanaged topasswithoutbeingstoppedand took thebus toScarlett’shouse,butnoonewas

home.Thehousehadbeenransacked,andtherewereobvioussignsofastruggle.

As soon as Scarlett started crying, Hogan had seen enough. He told Tristan to fly Scarlett toBirmingham,andhewaitedforTristantocomebackandpickhimup.TheyhadnoideawhathadhappenedtoScarlett’sparents,butnowthattheyhadheardthemessage

onTV,itwasn’tdifficulttoguess.Clearly,Scarlett’sparentshadbeenarrested,becausehermotherwasamemberofparliament.While Hogan was busy consoling the scared and frantic Scarlett, I asked the others where uncle

Jonathanwas,andtheysaidthathehadbeencalledtoLondon.Nowwealsoknewwhy;hewasbeingtoldtoreturntoYanar.Wehadno choicebut to call ourparents, and themessage theygaveuswas clear, to comehome

immediatelyanddiscussthesituationface-to-face.Iwashesitanttoleave.IwasworriedaboutWilliam,butwithbothhisparentsbeingpreachers,Iwas

prettycertainthathisfamilywouldbesafeforawhile.Hogan,however,hadabiggerproblem.Hecouldn’tleaveScarlettalone,sowedecidedtotakeher

withus.TheCroisefamilybeingOlympians,IwasfairlyconfidentthattheywouldacceptScarlettquiteeasily,evenifshewasaMasani,buttheirson’srefusaltofollowthemtothenew-foundplanetwouldbehardertotake.Unlike otherYans, Olympianswere verymuch attached to their offspring.Where aNorsewould

easilyunderstandachild’sneedtoprovethemselvestoOdin,Olympianswerenotfansoflettingtheirchildrenrisktheirlives,notevenforthesakeofZeushimself.WegotontheliftavailableatUncleJonathan’shouseandweretransportedtoYanarCity.Fromthere

IhadtotakeanotherlifttoYanarawithAmelia,leavingtheotherstofacetheirparents.Bothmyparentswerehome,aswellasmybrothers.Bythelookofthehouse,itwasclearthatthey

werereadytogo.Everythingwaspacked,evenmythings.Theywerejustwaitingforustoarrive.AmeliaandIfollowedourparentstomymother’soffice.Mymothersatathertable,butmyfather

refusedtositandpre-ferredtostandnexttoher.Ithought,Oh,boy,heisnothappy.IexplainedthatashappyasIwasthatGealltaYanarwasofficiallyours,Icouldn’tjointhematthe

momentbecause Iwas in love. Ihadmet someonewhomeantmore tome thananything, and Ihadmadefriendswhohadbecomefamilytome.ItoldthemthattheplaceofatruedaughterofOdinwastofighttoprotectwhatshehelddearinher

heart,andwhatIwasholdingdearatthatverymomentwaswaitingformeintheUK.BystayingonEarth, Iwasnotonlyhonouringmyheritagebutalsoeverything theyhad taughtme. Iadded thatbyleavingWilliamandtheotherstotheirfate,Iwouldbecomenobetterthanapersonwithnohonourandnocourage.IknewthatIwasbeingataddramatic,butitwasnecessary,anditworked,becausetheyallowedme

tostaybutdecided thatAmeliawas tooyoung tostay.Plus,sinceshewouldbe theonlyoneable to

replacemymotherastheheadofthecouncilandduchessifanythingdidhappentome,sheneededtostaywiththem,whereshecouldbesafe.Myparents decided that all theYans choosing to remain in theUK shouldbe housed inDraycott

Placetomaximiseourchancesofsurvival.WewouldalsoretainthecityofYanara,ifweeverneededasafeplaceincasetheMasaniwardidnotgoourway.TherestofYanarwastobedestroyedtoavoiditfallingintoenemyhands,andtheywouldleavea

spacecraftinorbitforus,ifweneededtojointhemor,inmycase,bringWilliamandhisfamilyforamoreformalintroduction.Iwasecstatictostay,butIwassadtoseemyfamilygo.Itbrokemyheart,butIhadnochoice.Earth

neededme.Icouldn’tleave.IlettheothersknowthatIwasgoingtomeettheminLondon,andmymotherpromisedtomakeall

thearrangementstoensurethattheYanaraprotectiongridwasupandrunningbeforeherdeparture.IgavethemaSahnuandtransportedbacktoLondon.Iwasthefirsttoarrive,followedbyTristan,

AlexandPam.Iexpectedthat.Tristan,Alex,PamandI,wewerechildrenofOdin,soitwasobviousthatitwouldn’tbetoohardtoconvinceourparentsthatstayingwasthebestthing.Hourswentby,andtherewasstillnonewsofHogan,ScarlettandHassan.HassanbeingaMakua,

whichmeantthathewasafollowerofMakuaHine,Ihadnoideahowhisparentswouldreacttohisdesiretostay.For theMakuas,being in syncwithMotherNatureandhaving togo toanewplanetwouldallow

them,intheirfaith,togetclosertotheuniverse.Iwasworriedthattheywouldwanthimtoexperienceitwiththem,butIwaswrong.Hearrivedwithabigsmile,andhelookeddifferent,moreconfident.AfterIscreamedwithjoyand

jumped on him when he arrived, I looked straight in his eyes and said, “Go on, just tell us.Whathappened?”He letgoofme,walked into themiddleof thestudy room,wherewehadgathered,andmadehis

handglow.We screamedwith joy.Hisparentsdidn’twanthim to staywithoutbeing able toprotecthimself,sohissisterhadgracefullytransferredherpowertohim.Iwasvery touched.FimiMulumbawas thekindestgirl Ihadevermet,andshe lovedherbrother

dearly.Icouldonlyimagineherfearatthethoughtofmaybeneverseeinghimagain,soshewantedtomakesurethathewouldnotgodownwithoutafight.Wedidn’thavemuchtimeinfrontofus,soIneededtoteachhimhowtousethatpowerassoonas

possible. I took him to the FIST room and told the others to work on a plan to stop the next-dayexecutionswhileIshowedHassanhowtousehispower.AnhourafterHassanandIhadleftthestudyroom,HoganfinallyarrivedwithScarlett.Fromwhat

he toldus, it hadbeenaverydifficultnegotiation.Hisparentswereadamant thathe shouldgowiththem,buttheywerewillingtoletScarlettfollowthem.

Lateron,afterScarletthadbeggedthemtolethersaveherparents,theyhadagreedtoletthemreturntotheUK,butnotwithoutHogangettingapowerfromhiscousin.ShehadtransferredittohimontheconditionthatherejoinedtheentirefamilyassoonasScarlett’sparentsweresaved.“So,whatareyougoingtodo?”Iasked.HelookedatScarlett,whohewasholding,thenlookedbackatmeandsaid,“I’mnotrejoiningthem.

Thisismynewhome.Ournewhome,”hesaid,staringbackatScarlett.“Yes,ournewhome,”shesaidbacktohim.Irolledmyeyesandmumbled,“Mm-hmm.”Hoganturnedtowardsmeandsaid,“Theyarefreetovisitmeiftheymissmesomuch.”IknewhiscousinwasaStreak,whichmeantthatshecouldgenerateenergylikeFimi’s,soItoldhim

tojoinmeandHassan.WhenHassan,HoganandIweredonewith the training,wefoundPam,Alex,TristanandScarlett

quite excited.Thenewshad justbeenbroadcast that theprisonerswouldbeescorted fromBelmarshprisontoSmithfield.Ithought,Excellent.Nowweknowexactlywheretheyare.Pam’splanwaseasy:gettoBelmarsh,freetheofficials,bringthemtoDraycottPlace,andtransport

themtoYanara,theonlysafeplaceleftonEarth.Ithoughtitwasbrilliant,butwecouldn’tleaveScarlettalone.SowedecidedthatIwouldtakeherto

William’shouse,butfirstIneededtocheckthatitwassafeinCardiff.WhenIwasabouttotakeoff,Scarlettstoppedmeandsaid,“Wait.Won’tthemeninblackdetectyou

ifyoufly?”“Theydon’tpossessthatkindoftechnology.Aslongastheydon’tseemetakeoff,Ishouldbesafe,”

Ianswered.Hoganhuggedherandsaid,“Don’tworry,babe.She’llbefine.”Andhekissedher.Itookoff,andassoonasIarrived,IcouldtellthatCardiffwasnolongersafe.Therewerepatrolsof

meninblackeverywhere,andnotasinglepersonoutsidebesidesthem.I flew toWilliam’s window and was so happy to see that he was in his room. I knocked at the

window,andwhenheopened,Ijumpedintohisarms.“OhmyGod,Iwassoworriedaboutyou.Itriedtocallyou,butallcommunicationshavebeencut,”

hesaid.Hehuggedmereallytightandkissedmeoverandover.Ifeltsobad.Ishouldhavecometoseehimearlier.AlthoughIcouldprotectmyself,Williamclearly

would always beworried aboutme getting hurt. Imade him sit on his bed and told him everythingabout the promised land, the Yans’ mass migration, our decision to stay and the plan to break intoBelmarsh.ItoldhimthatIhadcometoseeifScarlettcouldstaywithhim,andhesaidyes.Heinformedmethat

hisparentswerehomeandthatshewouldbesafe.Healsosaidthateverybodywasabitshakenafterthe

announcementonTVand that theWelshAssemblymembershadallbeenarrestedby theFamlaandtakentoLondon.IrealisedthattherewasagoodchancethatthesamecouldhavehappenedtoScarlett’sparents,andI

breathed a sigh of relief.Now therewas a glimmer of hope that Scarlett could be reunitedwith herfamily.WilliamdecidedthatthebestthingwouldbeforhimtoaccompanymetoLondonsohecouldassess

howsafeIwasatDraycottPlace.HewouldthenbringScarletttohisparentsandreturntoLondonwithmetohelpusfighttheFamla.Iwasnothappy.WilliamwasaMasani.Thechancesofhimbeinghurthadjustgonefromzerotoa

million in a second. On top of that, he hadn’t even asked me if I needed help, and that was notresonatingwellwithme.Hewrotealettertohisparentsandleftitonhisstudydesk.Iaskedhimwhyhewasleavingaletter,

andhesaid,“Just incaseScarlett refuses tocome toCardiff, Idon’twant tohave tocomebackandexplainwhyIhadtoleave.”I realised thatWilliamwas alwaysgoing tobeWilliam.Hewasnot doubtingmyability towin a

battle,hewasjustbeingthestrongandprotectiveguythathehadalwaysbeen.Ihadfalleninlovewithanalpha,andIshouldhaveexpectedhisauthoritariansidetoshowupfromtimetotime.Ididn’twanthimtocomeandputhislifeindanger,butIpreferredhimtobewithme,whereIwould

beabletoprotecthim,ratherthanfarawaywithmeconstantlyworried.I agreedwith his decisions, andwe flew back toDraycott Place.As soon as I told them that the

FamlahadtakenoverCardiffaswell,ScarlettdecidedthatshewasbetteroffstayinginLondonwithus.IalsotoldthemabouttheWelshAssemblymembers,anditbroughtScarletthopethatmaybeshewouldbeabletoseeherparentssoon.PamhaddecidedthatwewouldleaveScarlettandWilliaminthehouse, thengoandfreeasmany

officialsaswecouldandcomestraightback.Williamrefused.Hewanted tobeuseful, sowe taughtthemhowtoactivatethelift.First,wetookhimandScarletttoYanara.Thenweidentifiedagatheringpointandtoldthemtostart

movingtheescapeestoYanaraassoonasthefirstescapeehadreachedDraycottPlace,justincasewearrivedunderfirefromthemeninblack.Because of the high level of dangerwewould face on ourmission, Pam advised thatwe use our

powersatalltimes.Shewasstaringstraightatmewhenshewassayingthat.SheknewthatIwouldn’twanttodoit.TherulesofcombatinYanarwereveryclear,andbreakingthemwasunthinkable.Itwasasureway

toguaranteenevertobechosenbyOdintojoinhimonRagnarök,andIforonewantedtojoinmygod’sarmyintheafterlife.

The most important rule of combat was that when faced with an opponent who did not possesssupernaturalpowers,youwereforbiddentouseyours,inorderforthefighttobefairandhonourable.I repeated the rule tomy fellowYans, andTristan agreedwithme, butHogan andAlex said that

beingoutnumbered,asfarastheywereconcerned,gavethemtherighttousetheirpowersagainstthemeninblack.Wewantedallthelucktobeonourside,sowedecidedtogiveofferingstoourgodsinorderforour

journey to be bless-ed.William and Scarlett offered to pray to their god as well. Although we haddoubtsthattheirgodcouldbeofanyhelp,wehumouredthembylettingthemgiveitago.Pam,Alex,TristanandI,beingNorse,wenttogiveofferingstoLokiattheNorsetempleonthetop

floor.WechoseLokibecausehewasthegodofmischief,andhisapproachtobattlewouldbethebestcourseofactionforthisparticularsituation.Hassan, although not an Olympian, accompanied Hogan to give offerings to Ares and Athena in

DraycottPlace’sOlympiantemple.Timewasflying,andPamwantedustoleaveatmidnight,soassoonastheclockhittwelvea.m.,off

wewent.ItwasverystrangetoseeLondonsoempty.Therewasn’tevenaflyinsight,exceptforthemen-in-

blackpatrols.PamhaddownloadedamapofLondonandstudied theway toBelmarsh.Whenwearrivedat the

prison,itwasveryquiet.Weexpectedtoseeprisonguards,oratleastmeninblack,buttherewasnoone.Webrokethedoordown,andwhenwewentin,wesawbodiesallover.Clearly,theFamlahadgone

inandkilledalltheprisonerstomakespaceforthenewdetainees.Itwasaterrifyingsight,butwehadtopresson.Wewentourseparateways inorder tofree themmorequickly. Itdidnot take longformetostart

hearingdoorsopening.WewereveryluckythattheFamlawassoconfidentthatnoonewouldbeabletoescape,orbebraveenoughtorescuetheprisoners,thattheyhadleftnoguardsforustofight.AfterfreeingasizablenumberofveryfrightenedMPsand,tomysurprise,agoodnumberofmilitary

officers,Ifinallyarrivedatthelastcellinmyblockandopenedit.Igaspedandsaid,“Major?Captain?”Icouldn’tbelieveitwasthem.ItreallywasMajorPaulMcNamaraandCaptainGerardO’Connor.TheylookedasshockedasIwas,andthemajorsaidinamockingvoice,“O’Connor,look.It’sthePJ

Masks.Wearesaved.”Iwastoohappytoseehimtobemadathimforthatsarcastictoneofvoice,soIenteredthecelland

huggedthem.Iwassogladtoseethemalive.Themajortookmycheeksinhishandsandsaidinaconcernedtoneofvoice,“Whatthehellareyou

doinghere,princess?”“Rescuingyou,ofcourse,”Isaidinaveryexcitedvoice.

“Well,let’sgo,then.Iforonehaveneverbeensohappytoseeanyoneinmylife,”saidthecaptain.Hethenputhishandonmyshoulderandsaid,“Thankyou,child,forcoming.”Theyhelpedusfreetherestoftheprisoners,andweallgatheredattheprison’smaingate.WhenI

sawhowmanytherewere,Igotworried.Therewereatleasttwohundredofficials,militarypersonnelandsoon.Wecouldn’tflyallofthemover,butweneededtogettoDraycottPlace,sothemajortookcharge.HeaskedustotakehimtothemilitarybaseinordertogetsomeweaponsandlorriestocarryeveryonetoDraycottPlace.Theridetothearmybasewaseasy,butnotthedrivebacktoBelmarsh.Wewerespottedbythemen

inblack,andPam,Alex,TristanandIhad toblowup theircars,which,unfortunately,madea lotofnoise. I realised that Pamwas right; therewere just toomany of them, and the onlywaywe couldprotectthedetaineeswouldbebyusingourpowers.Bythetimewehadarrivedattheprisonandloadedallthevehicleswiththeescapees,weknewthat

theridehomewouldbeafight,anditwas.Hordesofcarswerenowcomingtowardsus,andassoonaswestartedblowinguptheircars,theypulledbazookasoutoftheirwindowsandstartedshootingatus.Isawthemajorstoptheconvoyandruntowardsme,screaming,“No!Diana!Diana!”Iknew that thesightofusbeing firedatmusthavebeen frightening forhim,but Ineededhim to

continueonhiswayandleaveustoourfate.IturnedtowardsPamandsaid,“Keephittingatthem.I’llbeback.”Shesawthemajorrunningtowardsusandnodded.SheunderstoodthatIhadtogotohim.Iflewtowardshimtostophiminhistracks,andhelookedfuriouslyatme.Hesaid,“Whatthehell

areyouthinking,puttingyourselfindangerlikethat?Iforbidyoutocontinue.Callyourlittlefriendsoverandgetinthecarwithmeimmediately.”Hewas scared. I couldnotonly see it, but I felt it aswell, so Iknew that as longashewas in a

panickedstate,hewouldn’thearmeatall.Hewastootallformetograbhisface,soIlevitatedtohislevel,grabbedhimbyhischeeksandwhisperedtohim,“Youhavetogo.Youknowthatyouhavetogo.Ifyoustay,wealldie,butifyougo,theotherPJMasksandIwillhaveaslimchancetomakeitoutofhere.Please,Major,go.Gonow.”ThePJMasksreferencebroughtalittlesmiletohisface,buthewasstillhesitatingwhenthecaptain,

whowasalsonearby,saidtohim,“Sheisright,sir.Wehavetogo,orwearealldead.”Hereluctantlygotback inhis lorry,and theycontinuedon theirwaywhilePam,AlexandTristan

weredodgingthemissiles.ItwasclearthatthemessagehadbeenpassedeverywherethatYanswereinLondon,andtheyhadcomepreparedforus.The major was leading the convoy, and our fight with the men in black allowed the convoy to

continue,escortedbyHoganandHassan,whowerestillnotusedtoflyingbutcouldatleastblastballsofenergyandimmobilisethemeninblack’scars.

Afterwehadtakencareoftheothercarsthathadcomeafterus,wearrivedatDraycottPlace,wherewefoundthatWilliamandScarletthadstartedtotransporttheofficialstoYanaraasplanned.WehadnotbeenfollowedallthewaytoDraycottPlace,butwewerecertainthatbynowtheFamla

knew that the peoplewho had escaped from the prisonwere inChelsea. Iwas pretty sure that theywouldbeknockingateverydoorinthearea,soIactivatedtheshield.Thatway,theycouldknockalltheywanted,andtheywouldn’tbeabletopenetrateourhouse.I realised that I had forgotten to ask if Scarlett’s parents were among the rescued, but Hogan

reassuredmethattheywereand,atthatverymoment,werewiththeirdaughterinYanara.Afterwehadsentthelastofficialthroughthelift,wefollowedthemtoYanara.Wetookthemtothe

closesthotelandtoldthemtochooseabedroomforeachwhilewespoketothemanagerofthehotel.Althoughthemassmigrationhadstarted,noteveryonewasgoneyet,andafterPamandIexplained

to themanager that thenewclientswereMasanis,he senthis staff to show themhow tooperate themachinesintheirbedrooms,aswellasshowingthemhowtoorderfood.IaskedthemajorifheandthecaptainwouldaccompanyPamandmetoseemymother,whileHogan

tookScarlettandherparentstohiswinterhome.WilliamchosetogosightseeingwithAlexandHassan.WhenIgothome,Ifoundmymotherinheroffice.Shewassurprisedtoseeme.Shewasevenmore

surprisedtoseethemajorandthecaptainwithPamandme,andwasgobsmackedwhenItoldherofournewrefugeesintown.Themajorandthecaptainaskedtospeaktoherprivately.Igavethemanevillookandwasaboutto

refusewhen,tomysurprise,sheagreedandsentPamandmetomyroom.Pamreluctantlyfollowedmetomyroomwhilemymotherwastalkingtothemajor.Ifoundoutlaterthatafterwehadgone,mymotherturnedherattentiontothetwomen.Shelookedat

themajorandsaid,“So,youarethefamousMajorMcNamara.Mydaughtercalledyouajerk.AndyoumustbeCaptainO’Connor.Shedidn’tsaymuchaboutyou.I’mguessingshewastoobusyhatingthemajorfortakingleadershipawayfromherduringthebattleofJ.C..”Shethenpointedtothechairsontheoppositesideofthetableandsaid,“Please,takeaseatandtell

mewhatyouaredoinginmyfaircity.”Thetwoofficerslookedateachother,andthemajorstarted.“MrsKorsning—”Butmymothercuthimoffinhistracksbysaying,“YourGrace.Iamtherulerofthisduchy,andyou

willaddressmebymypropertitle,regardlessofyourrelationshipwithmydaughter.”“Forgiveme,YourGrace.WearenotversedinYanarprotocol,”saidMajorMcNamara.Angeringthe

duchesswasthelastthinghewanted.“Youareforgiven.Nowtellmewhyyouarehere,”shesaidinacalmervoice.“Wearehereforhelp.Wearebeingoverrunbyanalienracewhohaveplacedtheirhumanalliesin

all governmental positions, arrested every official they could find, and are trying to take over theworld.”

Themajor’svoicewasstartingtotremble,andhetookadeepbreathbeforecontinuing.“Fromwhatwe could observe since arriving here, you have the technology to drive them off our planet, not tomentionthattheYanspossesssuperpowers.Defeatingtheinvaderswouldbeveryeasyforyou.”Mymotherlookedathimintenselyandsaid,“IamguessingthatDianahasalreadytoldyouthatwe

areleavingthisplanet.Ourforcesarealreadyontheirwaytoournewworld,andsoismyhusband.Ican’thelpyou.”Themajorcouldn’tbelievewhathewashearing.WhenIhadtoldhimthattheYanswouldnotjoin

the fight, he had shrugged his shoulders, but getting a confirmation from the duchess herself wascrushing his last hope.He leaned forward and said, “TheBritish royal family and theUK’s highestofficialsarehidinginabunkerontheborderofEnglandandScotland.WehavetoretrievethembeforetheyarefoundbytheFamla,andtakethemtosafety.IambeggingyoutorecallyourforcesandjoinusinthefighttodefeattheHendusandtheirshadowgroup,theFamla.”Shesatdown,staredathimforawhile, thensaid,“Okay,I’llmakeyouadeal.Myheir isstaying

behind.Apparently,Diana is in lovewith someboyand refuses toabandonhim.Shealso refuses toleaveEarthtothemercyoftheHendusandtheFamla.Imightbetheduchess,butIamalsoamother,andmychild’ssafetycomesfirst. IfyouagreetobecometheguardianofnotonlyDianabut theWutwins,theCroiseheir,TristanandDavid,thenImightreconsiderdestroyingtheduchyandleavingitasarefugeforyourleaders,”sheconcluded.Themajorandthecaptainbreathedasighofrelief.At least theynowhadnotonlyasafeplace to

hidetheprominentmembersoftheirsocietybutalsoaplacetoregroupandorganiseadecentplantoretaketheircountry.Hewasalsogladtohavebeengivenguardianshipofthechildren.Hehadrealisedveryearlyonthat

hewasdealingwithspoiledbrats,andnowthathehadtheauthoritytoorderthemtostanddown,hewouldbeabletoprotectthemfromharmmoreeffectively.Theduchessgavethemajoraccessnotonlytoourtechnologybutalsoourweaponsandassuredhim

andthecaptainthatallofuschildrenknewhowtheyworked,andwewouldbeabletoteachthemhowtoutilisethem.ThebadnewsforhimcamewhensheinformedhimthataccesstoYanarterritorieswouldhavetobe

approvedbyPamandme.Ifwegirlsfoundanyoneunworthyofenteringourterritories,nomatterhowimportant that person was, then that person would be refused access. Additionally, if anyonemisbehavedoracteddishonourablywhileinYanar,thenthepersonwouldbeimmediatelyremovedandsentbacktotheircountry,regardlessofthethreatthatmightbeontheirlives.Toensurethatourlawswouldbefollowedtotheletter,mymotherdecidedtoleaveourpoliceforce

inplacetoregulatetheflowofnewcomersuntiltheendoftheHendu–Masaniwar.The major tried to convince the duchess to place an adult on the throne, but she refused. She

explainedthatYanarhadverystrictlaws,andoneofthelawswasthatonlytheYanwiththestrongest

powerscouldrule,andwiththeirdeparture,thatYanwouldbeme.She also informed him that about amillion and a halfYans had decided to stay onEarth, so she

stronglyadvisedhimtoseekthemoutforhelp.Hereplied,“Withallduerespect,YourGrace,ifamillionandahalfYanshavebeenleftonEarth,

whydidtheyallowtheplanettobeoverrunbytheFamla?”Mymothersmiledandasked,“HasChinabeenoverrunaswell?”Themajorwasconfused.Heturnedtowardsthecaptain,butthecaptainhadnoanswer,sothemajor

turnedbacktomymotherandsaid,“Iamnotsure,butIcan’tseewhytheywouldn’thavebeen.Theirfirepowerisnotsuperiortotherestoftheworld’s.”Mymotherwasstillsmilingandsaid,“Ilikeyou,Major.Youarecourageous,andyouarewillingto

fightanddieforyourfreedom.ThosearequalitiesthatOdinexpectsinallofus.IwilldoyouafavourandrevealtoyouthattwoofChina’stopgeneralsarealsoYans.Nowtellme,whatarethechancesthattwoYangeneralswouldletthecountrytheyliveinfallunderanyone’srule?”Hecouldn’tbelieveit.Heasked,“AretheChineseawareofwhotheyare?”“Theyweremadeawareoftheirgenerals’trueidentitiessoonaftertheinvasionbegan,”shesaid.“So

this iswhat I can do for you.All theYans left on Earth have been asked to go dark, including thegenerals.TwoofChina’sbestdesigners,whohappen tobeYans,arenowthepointofcontact forallYansleftonEarth.Get theirKJsignalsfromthegirls,andaskthedesigners toconnectyoutoeitherGeneralYingYueLoreleiLiuorGeneralFengTyrLi.Ifyouarelucky,theymightagreetojoinyourfight.”Shethenstoodupandpressedabuttonthatranginourroom.Shethenbroughtusforwardandtold

us of her decision. I was furious. I was old enough to be my own boss. I didn’t need a guardian,especially a caveman like the major, but I knew that antagonising my mother would be a seriousmistake.Ihadatemper,andIhadinheritedthatqualityfromher.ButthegoodnewswasthatPamandIhadbeenmadethenewregentsofYanar,andthatmademe

happier thananything. Iwouldbeable toalloworvetoanydecision regardingmycountryandwhowouldbeallowedin.Themeetingwasover.Mymotherinformedusthatshewouldbeleavingsoonandmadeapointto

tellusthattheywereexpectingustojointheminGealltaYanarforeveryreligiousholidayandfamilycelebration.PamandIlookedateachother,andweagreedthatitwasafairdeal.IwantedhertomeetWilliam,

butshesaidthatshewastoobusy,soweleftwithournewguardian.ThefirstthingthemajordidwastodemandthatweshowhimhowYanar’sshieldworked.Iwasa

littlesurprised.Iexpectedhimtowanttodosomesightseeing,butIunderstoodwhenweweremadeawareoftheroyalfamilyandtheprimeministerbeinginabunkerneartheScottishborder.Ithought,Ouch.IftheFamlaeverfindoutaboutthat,itwillnotendwell.

Themajorwasdesperatetogetthemoutofthereassoonaspossibleandwantedtohavewithhimasmanyweaponsaspossible.ThemajorchoseYanara’sarmybasetosetupresidencyforallthemilitaryofficersandsoldiersthat

hadcomewithus,andallthevolunteersthathaddecidedtojointhefight.Notsurprisingly,veryfewofthevolunteerswerecareerpoliticians.Thatparticulargroupchosetobe

senttoYanarCity,becausetheweatherwasbetter,andtheycouldspendtheirdaysatthebeachwhilewaitingfortheirfamiliestojointhem.IwasheartbrokenwhenWilliamjoinedthemilitaryvolunteers.Yes,helookedveryhandsomeinhis

brand-new uniform, but hewas spendingmost of his time learning how to fightwithYanweaponsratherthanspendthattimewithme.IwassurprisedwhenthemajoraskedtospeaktoeitherJennyJiorLuoZheng.FirstIthought,Bro,

you can’t afford their clothes, but then he disclosed that he needed their help to get in contactwithGeneralLoreleiandGeneralTyr,sowehurriedwiththeintroductions.ThetwogeneralswereChina’syoungestandmostesteemedgenerals.WhenGeneralLoreleiarrived

lookingsuper-hot,Ithoughtthemajor’seyesweregoingtofallout.Herlongblackhairwasinabun,andshewaswearingChina’sofficialmilitaryattire.Shewasquiteimpressiveandalittlebitscary.GeneralTyrarrivedlater.Hetoowaswearinghisofficialattire.Clearly, themajorhadn’texpected

bothofthemtobeintheirthirties.Assoonasthepleasantrieswereover,PamandIdisappeared.Thetwogeneralswereveryoldfriendsofourparents,andwedidnotwantthemtodecidethattheywouldbebettersuitedtobeingourguardiansrather thanthemajor.Thetruthwasthatasstrictas themajorwas,thegeneralswereevenworse.It took thegenerals twoweeks toshowthemajor’sarmythebasicsofYan technology,andby the

timetheyweredone,allexceptforthepoliceforcehadleft,includingmymother.Therefugeeshadhelpedthemselves toaccommodations leftemptybythepreviousoccupantswith

ourblessings,andasIhadpredicted,themajorbootedPamandmeoutofanymeetingrelatingtotheirplanstoretaketheplanet.He promised to include us in any discussion related toYanar, but thatwas no consolation tomy

woundedpride.IwasthinkingthathewasluckyIwastoohonourabletoblasthimaway.Hewasalsolucky thatmymotherhadorderedPamandme toshowhimrespectandobeyhim,sincehewasourguardian.Andwhiletheboys,PamandIwerewatchingPaulonhiswaytofinalisetheplanstosavetheroyal

family,Hassanturnedtowardsusandsaid,“JustlikeFloRidasaid,it’sgoingdownforreal.”Andweallburstoutlaughing.

IwouldliketothanktheentireReedsyteam,withoutwhomIwouldhaveneverbeenabletopublishthis book. A special thanks to Roisin Heycock for her guidance, Leonora Bulbeck, the best editoranyone could hope for, andCherieChapman,my favourite cover designer!My thanks go to ShanieCooperforthebrilliantinteriorcoverofthisbookandherinvaluableadvice,andtoRachelMannforthefantasticproofreadingworkshedidonmymanuscript.Thankyouforallyourhelp!

L.C. Ainsworth lives in the United Kingdom and is a support worker for young people fromdisadvantagebackgroundsduringtheday,andafantasynovelistatnight.Thisisherfirstbook,anditisinspiredbyatruestory.

Published,2019